BONAPARTE'S PARK. 



BONAPARTE'S 



PARK, 



THE MURATS. 



E. M. WOODWARD, 

AUTHOR OV 
BoRDENTOWN AND ENVIRONS; THE OLD FAMILIES OP BURLINGTON 

County, N. J.; Our Campaigns; The Citizen 
Soldiery, Etc., Etc., Etc. 



TRENTON, N. J. : 
MacCrellish <fe Quioley, General Book and Job Printers. 



Entered, according to an act of Congress, in the year 1S79, by 

E. M. WOODWARD, 

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



TO 

MRS. OLIVER HOPKINSON, 

WHOSE EXCELLENT QUALITIES OF THE HEART AND MIND HATE 
ENDEARED HER TO MANY PRIENDS, 

THIS WORK 

IS JIO.-T RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 

BY THE AUTHOR. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Brief of Title — Stephen Sayre — Sketch of — Is High Sheriff of 
London — Espouses Independence — Is Imprisoned — Ruined Finan- 
cially — Connected with European Legations — Returns to 
America — Purchases the Park — His Descendants — Death. 



CHAPTER II. 

Joseph Bonaparte — His Marriage — Diplomatic Connections — De- 
clines the Crown of Lombardy — Accepts that of Naples — His 
Reign — Proclaimed King of Spain — Fights for His Crown — 
Wins and Loses It — Counselor of the Empress — Waterloo. 



CHAPTER III. 

Mailliard's Account of His Escape to America — Courtesy of Henry 
Clay — His Residence in Philadelphia — Why He Located in 

BORDENTOWN — PERMISSION TO HOLD REAL ESTATE GRANTED. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Joseph's First Visit to Bordentown — His Agent Purchases the 
Park — First House — Second House — Its Destruction — Letter 
of Thanks to the Citizens — Description of Third House — Of 
the Tare — Of the Lake — Underground Passages. 



CHAPTER V. 

The Lake House — His Wife, Tributes to — His Daughter Zenaide 
— Sketch of Prince Charles — His Grandchildren — His Daugh- 
ter Charlotte — Sketch of Napoleon Lewis. 



g CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VI. 
Personal Appearance of Joseph — Interesting Visit — How He En- 
tertained His Guests. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Description op Some of His Paintings — Full List of — Sketch of 
Cardinal Fesch — Of Noted Artists — List of Marri.es and 
Bronzes — Of Engravings — Description of Venus Victrix — Of 
His Furniture. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The Count and the Citizens — Reminiscences of Bellemere, Car- 
man, Thorn and Wood — His Household— Judge Elmer's Inter- 
esting Account — General Bernard — Dr. Sprague — The State 
Survey — Charlotte and Captain Mickle. 



CHAPTER IX. 

The Two Visits of La Fayette — The Crown of Mexico Offered to 
Joseph — Visit of Louis Napoleon — Of a Family — Their Opin- 
ion of Pauline — Sketch of Pauline. 



CHAPTER X. 

Joseph's Position in Regard to the Duke de Reichstadt — Decree 
of the French Senate — Revolution of 1830 — His Letter to 
the Chamber of Deputies — Visits England — Respect Paid to 
Him on His Departure — Revisits America — Returns to Europe 
— Death — Extracts from His Will — Prince Joseph — Sale of 
the Park — Beckett — The Hamilton's. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Interesting Sketch of Louis Mailliard — Recovery of the Buried 
Casket — Joseph's Remains Transferred to France — Adolph 
Mailliard. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XII. 
Murat, King of the Sicilies — Prince Murat — Settles near Bor- 
dentown — Roebuck — Marries Miss Fraser — The Fkasers — The 
City in the Air — The Prince's Characteristics — Madame Mu- 
rat's School — How the Prince Spent His Time — The Prince 
in His Glory. 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Assault and Battery - — The Prince's Amusing Defence — Geni 

Tradesmen — His Friends — Reyolution of 1848 — Return to 
France — Elected to the Assembly — Envoy, Senator, Prince, 
Soldier and Prisoner — TnE Princess Caroline's Reward — Mr. 
Brown's Visit — Murat's Children — Baron de Chasseron and 
Duke de Moucht — Fall of the Empire — Separation of Estate — 
Fortunes Spent by the Prince — His Sisters — Sketch of Napo- 
leon Achille Murat — William Fraser's Children. 



INDEX 



A. 

Adams, President John Quincy, 

71. 
Adriansen, Alexander, 63. 
Allen E. S., 38. 
" Mrs., Colonel Joseph W., 

111. 
America and Her Commentators, Tuck- 

erman's, 115. 
American Cyclopadia, Appleton's, 58, 

84, 89, 113. 
American Ornithology^ 47. 
Ashburton, Lord, 34. 



B. 

Bacciochi, 66. 
Bartolini, 66, 67, 90. 

Bassano, 59. 
Bassett, Miss, 26. 
Bates, Miss, 115. 
Battle of Ocano, 30. 
" " Vittoria, 31. 
" " ira^rfoo,31,75,84,96,104. 
Beasley, Reverend Doctor, 105. 
Beckett. Henry, 93, 94. 
Sir E. D., 93. 

" " John, 93. 

" " Thomas, 93. 

Beecher's Mayazine, 36, 74. 
Bellemere, Philip, 16, 39, 71, 72. 
Berchem, 63. 
Berkeley Men, 33, 79. 

" Miss, 51, 52. 



Bernadotte, King, 27, 66. 

Bernard, General Simon, 74, 75. 
76, 77. 

Bibault, 59. 

Biddle, Nicholas, 48. 

Bingham, Mr., 34. 

Bio. Sketch of Joseph Napoleon Bona- 
parte, 85, 86, 88. 

Birch, Jr., Thomas, 55. 

Bloemaert, A., 61. 

Boguet, 60. 

Bonaparte, Auguste Amilie M. J., 
48. 

Bonaparte, Camerata, Princess, 66. 
" Caroline, Queen of Na- 

ples, 103, 104. 

Bonaparte, Charles, 66. 

Charles Lueien, Prince, 
34, 45, 46, 47, 72, 78, 90, 91, 93. 

Bonaparte, Charlotte Honorine 
Josephine, 48. 

Bonaparte, Charlotte' Julie, 48,78, 
81. 

Bonaparte, Eliza, Princess, 66. 
" Frederica Catharine, 

Princess of Wirtemberg, 66. 

Bonaparte, Eortense, Queen of 
Holland, 48, 81. 

Bonaparte, Jerome, King, 66, 88, 
89. 

Bona] .arte, Joseph Lueien Charles 
Napoleon, 34, 47, 90, 91, 93. 

Bonaparte, Josephine, Empress, 
84. 



12 



INDEX, 



Bonaparte, Julie C— Z— P— L— 

D— B., 47. 
Bonaparte, Julie Marie, Queen of 

Naples and Spain, 27, 96, 98. 
Bonaparte, Louis, King, 48, 66, 

78, 89. 

Bonaparte, Lucien, King, 28, 29, 
36, 46, 68, 78, 88, 89. 

Bonaparte, Lucien Louis Joseph 
Napoleon, Cardinal, 47, 91. 

Bonaparte, Marie Louise, Em- 
press, 66, 84. 

Bonaparte, Marie D— E— J — P., 
48. 

Bonaparte, Napoleon II ; 31, 48, 

79, 81, 82, 85, 87, 88. 
Bonaparte, Napoleon III; 47,48, 

78,81,88, 8D, IK. 11 -J, 114. 
Bonaparte, Napoleon G. J. P., His 

Highness, 48. 
Bonaparte, Napoleon Louis, Grand 

Duke, 48, 81. 
Bonaparte, Pauline, Princess, 53, 

54, 66, 67, 83, 84. 
Bonaparte, Zenaide, 34, 44, 45, 46, 

47, 72, 78, 90, 91, 93. 
Borden, Joseph, 23. 

" Elizabeth, 23. 
Bordentown Register, 15, 50. 
Borghese, Prince Camillo, 66, 83, 

84. 
Bosio, 66, 67. 
Boston Advertiser, 114. 
Braxton, Carter, 2d. 
Brown, Wardell, 113. 
" Frances, 115. 



c. 



Cairns, Mr., 106. 
Campidoglio, M. A. 
Canaletti, 62. 



f.3. 



Cannon, Garritt S., 50. 
Canova, 66, 67. 
Carman. A. D., 72. 
Carracchi, A., 61, 64. 
Carret, M.. 38. 
Champagne, Philip De, 63. 
Chatham, Earl of, 24. 

ntown, 94, 113, 
114. 
Clari, Marie Julie. 27. 45. 
" Eugenie, 27, 2^. 15. 
Clay, Henry, 33, 71. 
Clayton, John M., 76 
Clauzel, 71. 

( Jolomba, Gio Botta, 60. 
( 'olumbia Hera 
( 'ommerce, Bi i i, 32. 
Conkling, T. II., 67, 7 1. 
Courtauldt, Samuel, 24. 

D. 

Daniels, Joseph, 1 16. 
De Heem, Cornelius, 61. 

De la Ilvre, Laurent, 61. 
Delaistre, 90. 
Del Gallo, Marquis, 47. 
De Marne, 62. 
Delle Notti, Gherardo, 61. 
Del Piombo, Sebastian, 63. 
Denys, Simon. 58, 59. 
Desmonettes, 7 1 . 
Dewees, Doctor, 109. 
Dickerson. Gov. Mahlon, 36. 
ndenee, 25. 
Douglass, George, 23. 
" Joseph, 23. 
Drake's Die. Ame. Biog., 24. 
Duane, William, 26. 

" William J., 25, 26. 
Duphor, General, 28. 
Duponceau, Captain Peter S., 86. 
Dutch School The, 65. 



/A DEX. 



13 



B. 

Ellis, Edward S., 36. 

Elmer, Judge L. Q. C., 74, 75, 76, 77. 

Espinos, Benito, 61. 



Farnsworth, Thomas, 23, 39. 

Fearon, Henry Bradshaw, 36, 39. 

Ferdinand, King, 46. 

Fesch, Cardinal, 57, 58, 74, 94. 

Field, Isaac, 83. 

Flemish School, The, 65. 

Foncine, Colonel, 75. 

Foy, General, 49. 

Franck, Francis, 62. 

Franklin, Benjamin, 25. 

Fraser, Mis. Anna Longton, 105. 

" Caroline Georgiana, 105 to 
115. 
Fraser, Caroline G., 115. 

" Eliza S., 106, 113. 

" Frank Lucien, 115. 

" Gulianna, 116. 

" Harriet, 106. 

" Jane, 106, 114. 

" Major, 105. 

" Maria, 106. 

" Martha Jane, 116. 

" Thomas, 115. 

" William, 106, 115, 116, 
Frederick the Great, 25. 
French School, The, 65. 

G. 

Gerard, 90. 
Gibbs Wolcott, 25. 
Giordano, Luca, 58. 
Girard, Stephen, 35, 79. 
Godefs Lady's Book, 50. 
Groveville, 39, 47, 90, 93. 
Grymes, Mary, 26. 



Grymes, Philip Lightfoot, 26. 
Guido, 64. 
Guercino, 61. 



Hackerto, Filippo, 63. 
Hamilton, Gov. Andrew, 93. 
Helena, 83. 
History of the War in Spain, 49. 

" " Revolution of 18S0, 80. 
Holcombe, George, 74. 
Efopkinson, Judge Joseph, 92, 95. 
Howard, Miller, 108. 
Hughes, Mr., 74. 
Hunt, Abraham, 23. 
Hutchinson, Mahlon, 39. 
" John P., 23. 



Ingersoll, Charles J., 49. 
Italian School, The, 64. 

J. 
Janline, William, 47. 
Jennings, Mr., 33. 
Junot, Mme., 45. 

K. 

Kartright, Charles E., 94. 
Kean, Peter, 74. 



La Clerc, General, 84. 
La Coste, M. F., 67, 74. 

" Mine., 74. 

" Leo, 74. 

Lafayette, General, 71, 79, 80. 
Lairesse, Gerard, 62. 
Lallemand, 71. 
Lathrop, Reverend John P., 114. 



14 



INDEX. 



Lathrop, Mrs., 114. 
Lawrence, 64. 
Lebrun, Charles, 63. 
Lee, Arthur, 25. 

" Richard Henry, 24. 

" William, 24. 
Lefevre, Robert, 59. 
TAppincotCs Magazine, 48. 
Liverpool, Lord, 84. 
Louis Phillippe, 75, 76, 87, 88. 
Louis XVI, 103. 
Lyle, Miss, 93. 

M. 

Mailliard, Adolph, 15, 32, 44, 74, 

91, 92, 99. 
Mailliard, Louis, 32, 33, 35, 50, 73, 
74, 90,91, 92,95,96,97,98,99. 
Mansfield, Lord, 25. 
Marshal Augereau, 30, 79. 

" Bazaine, 48, 112. 

" Bernadotte, 27, 66. 

" Bessieres, 30. 

" Jourdan, 30. 

" Lannes, 30. 

" Las Casas, 46. 

" Marmont, 30, 79. 

" Massena, 30. 

" Mortier, 30. 

" Key, 30. 

" Soult, 30. 

" Suchet, 30. 

" Victor, 30. 

MacKnight, 39, 90. 
Meany, Captain, 34. 
Metternich, Prince, 82. 
Metz, Prisoner at, 112. 
Messervey, Captain, 32. 

of, 80. 
Mickle, Captain, 78. 
Miranda, 26. 
Moreau, General, 36, 71, 80. 



Murat, Achille, 113. 

" Anna, Duchess deMouchy, 
113. 

Murat, Caroline, Queen of Naples, 
103, 104. 

Murat, Caroline Georgiana, Prin- 
cess, 105 to 115. 

Murat, Caroline, Countess de Chas- 
seron, 113. 

Murat, Joachim, King of Naples, 
103. 

Murat, Joseph Joachim Napoleon, 
112, 113. 

Murat, Lucien, 1 13. 

" Lwtitia Josephine, Count- 
ess Pepoli, 115. 

Murat, Louise Julie Caroline, 
Countess Rasponi, 115. 

Murat, Napoleon Achille, 115. 
" Prince Napoleon, 73, 105 
to 115. 

N. 

Naples, 21,29, 30, 77, 112. 
Natoire, 62, 77. 
Norcross, William, 111. 
Notions of the Americans, 42. 
Nutt, Miss Maria II., 40, 49, 68, 

106. 
Nye, Charles M., 116. 



o. 

Oscar, King of Sweden, 27, 66. 

P. 

Paoli, Pascal, 27. 
Paret, 63. 

Penn, Gov. John, 34. 
Peter nerfs, 63. 
Pius, VI, 28. 
" IX, 46. 



INDEX. 



15 



Pilkington, 59. 

Potts, William John, 16, 24, 34, 67. 

Poussin, Captain, 76. 

" Gaspar, 62, 68. 
Prangins, 95, 96, 97. 
Primole, Count, 48. 
Princeton in the 18th Century, 24. 

Q. 

Quintin, Andrew, 80. 
" Major, 80. 



Rahl, Colonel, 23. 
Randal, Jr., .John, 74. 
Raphael Moengs, 55. 
Reed, General Joseph, 24. 

" William B., 24, 26. 
Reichstadt, Duke de, 81, 82, 8i 
Reinholdt, George, 38, 39. 
Rembrant, 59. 
Richards, Thomas, 93. 
Richardson, Sergeant, 24. 
Rio Janeiro, 81. 

Robbins, Esquire Edwards, 35. 
Rockford, Lord, 24, 25. 
Robespierre, Maximilian, 26. 
Roebuck, 104, 105. 
Rubens, 56. 
Rural Park; 83. 
Ruysdael, 63. 



/Sabine's New York Advertiser, 47. 
Salter, Hon. Edwin, 109. 
Sarrans, M., 80. 
Savery, Jacques, 60. 
Say re, B. B., 26. 

" Elizabeth, 24, 25, 26. 

" Stephen, 24, 25, 26, 38. 

" S. W., 25, 26. 



Sayre, Virginia, 26. 
" William, 26. 
Schiller's dramas, 47. 
Scott, General Winfleld, 71. 
Scribner's Magazine, 34. 
Sneyders, 56, 57. 
Snowden, William, 41. 
Sprague, Reverend Doctor, 75. 
Stewart, Admiral, 36, 71. 
St. Helena, 46, 75, 79, 82, 84, 87. 
St. Pierre, Bernardin de, 50. 
Stockton, Commodore, 71, 74. 
Strau&bourgh Insurrection, 81. 
Sullivan, J. L., 75. 
Sunday Dispatch, 35. 
Swebach, 60. 

T. 

Talleyrand, 28, 79. 
Tempesta, Antonio, 59. 
Teniers, David, 59. 
Terburgh, 61. 
Thibaud, Miss, 74, 91, 92. 

William, 51,74,90, 91,92. 
Thompson's His. of Long Island, 24. 
Thorn, Anthony, 71, 72, 73. 

" Langhorn, 92. 
Titian, 64. 

Totten, Lieutenant Colonel, 75, 77. 
Traveling Bachelor, 42. 
Treaty of Amiens, 29. 

" " Frana and Austria, 29. 

" " France and United States, 
29, 59. 
Treaty, Joint against Barbary, 29. 

" of Ghent, 33. 

" Jay's, 2"). 

" of Valencay, 46. 



Vanderlinck, b2. 
i Van Eyck, Gaspar, 60. 



i<; 



INDEX. 



Van Osr, 62. 
Venus Victrix, 67. 
Veret M., 97. 
Vernet, Horace, 58. 
" Joseph, 57, 53. 

w. 

Washington, 25, 75, 81, 89. 

Webster, Daniel, 71. 



Wellington, Duke of, 67. 

White Horse Bridge, 39, 80, 105, 107. 

Wickes, M. D., Stephen, 24. 

Wilkes, John, 24. 

Willis Byrd, 115. 

Wilson, Alexander, 47. 

" George, 116. 
Wood, Sr., John, 73. 

" Thomas, 73. 
Wraxali, Posthumous Mem., 25. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte, King of Naples and 

Spain, Frontispiece. 

View of the Park and First Mansion from the 

Hill-top, .-..-.--- Page 40 



PREFACE. 



SKETCHES of Bonaparte's Park have appeared, from 
time to time, for years past, in various newspapers and 
magazines in this country and in Europe. Passing by 
those sensational writers who told of sentinels posted on 
the tower, watching for the appearance of an English, 
Spanish, or French fleet sailing up the Delaware river to 
seize the ex-King and carry him into captivity ; of subter- 
ranean passages, opening upon the river bank, or ending in 
deep and dark recesses of the wood, affording secret means 
of escape from pursuers : we come to a more reliable class 
of authors, who were disposed to deal in but little romance. 
These mostly derived their information, during short visits 
to Bordentown. from such as by chance they obtained 
access to, and, clothing their story in proper language, gave 
it to the public as authentic. There are, however, many 
deeply interesting but short sketches, scattered through 
numerous volumes, written by distinguished visitors and 
travelers, that are of much value. 

Believing a perfectly true sketch of the Park, and of the- 
Murats, would be well received by the public, residing near 
Bordentown, and being well acquainted with its leading 
citizens, we prepared and published in " The Register " 
of that city, articles upon the same. This led to the detec- 
tion of some errors, and the addition of much new mate- 
rial, kindly furnished, by the citizens and correspondents 
in various parts of the country. We feel ourselves under 
many obligations to Mr. Adolph Mailliard, the son of King 
Joseph's faithful secretary, for deeply interesting and 



20 PREFACE. 

authentic information never before given to the public ; to 
Mr. Belleraere, a member of his household, for carefully 
going over with us the manuscript; to William John Potts, 
Esq., of Camden, jS". J., for valuable extracts from various 
works, and to the many citizens of Bordentown who have 
furnished us with their reminiscences of the Count and 
his family. R M w> 

Ellisdale, Monmouth Co., N. J., 
August 15th, 1879. 



INTRODUCTION. 



THE emigration to this country of Joseph Bonaparte, the 
brother of the great Napoleon, who possessed success- 
ively the crowns of Naples and Spain ; his long, contented 
and munificent residence among us, and the esteem enter- 
tained by all who formed his acquaintance, cannot fail to 
prove a subject of deep interest to all, and to awaken curi- 
osity for a long time to come. By reason of the renown of 
the Emperor, and the part played by Joseph in the great 
drama, in which millions were marshalled in arms, thrones 
and scepters hurled to the dust, and kings created at the 
will of one man, a deep interest is attached to his personal 
character and career. 

The opinion, so popular, that Napoleon was the only 
extraordinary member of the family, is erroneous. They 
were all gifted by nature, each could have achieved emi- 
nence on any road of life, and the whole family constituted 
the most brilliant and attractive group of contemporary 
kinsmen we have any knowledge of. Joseph's participa- 
tion in the events of Europe, are lost sight of beside the 
mighty deeds of his great brother. But if, in the present 
day, a man existed, who, as a diplomatist, soldier and king, 
had distinguished himself by his wisdom and brilliant qual- 
ities, had gained battles and worn two crowns, was distin- 
guished for his patriotism, had never broken faith with 
friend or foe — that man would hold a high place in public 
estimation, and would be called great. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 



CHAPTER I. 

Brief of Title — Stephen Sayre — Sketch of — Is High Sheriff of 
London — Espouses Independence — Is Imprisoned — Ruined Fi- 
nancially — Connected with European Legations — Returns to 
America — Purchases the Park — His Descendants — His Death. 

POINT BREEZE was the name by which a portion of the 
Park was formerly known. The " Point " was situated 
on Cross wicks creek, where the observator}- stood. It was 
part of one of the original tracts located by Thomas Farns- 
worth, in 1681, and, upon his death, by will descended to 
his son John. Joseph Borden, the founder of Bordentown, 
afterwards purchased it, and from him it passed to his son- 
in-law, Joseph Douglass, who married Elizabeth Borden. 
Joseph, by his will, dated September 5th, 1777, and proved 
August 15th, 1783, about which time he died, devised the 
plantation to his son, George Douglass.* George kept a 
store there during the revolutionary war, and offered for sale 
" French Brandy in hogsheads, Handkerchiefs, Bohea Tea, 
Grass Scythes, etc." Being unfortunate in business, lie 
made an assignment to Abraham Hunt, the rich merchant 
of Trenton (who entertained Colonel Rahl, the Hessian 
commander, at Christmas festivities, the eve before the 
battle of Trenton), and others of New York, for the ben- 
efit of his creditors, November 6th, 1792. Hunt, who was 



*We are indebted to Mr. John P. Hutchinson, of Bordentown, for the brief of title 
of the Point Breeze property. 



24 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

the active assignee, disposed of the real estate called Point 
Breeze, without metes, bounds or quantity, by his own act, 
and as attorney for the other assignees, to Samuel Court- 
auldt, a Cuban, trustee for Elizabeth Sayre, December 
17th, 1793. 

Stephen Sayre was a man of considerable ability, and for 
a number of years resided there. There are several 
biographical sketches published of him, one by the late 
William B. Eeed, in his life of his grandfather, General 
Joseph Reed ; another in " Thompson's History of Long 
Island ;" another in "Princeton in the Eighteenth Century," 
and another, and probably the best, in " Drake's Dictionary 
of American Biography." From these, and notes furnished 
by "William John Potts, Esq., of Camden, and Stephen 
Wickes, M. D., of Orange, New Jersey, we have compiled 
the following : 

Stephen Sayre was born in South Hampton, Long Island, 
in 1745, to which place his ancestors came from Lynn, 
Mass., in 1640. He visited England when about thirty 
years of age, where he married an English lady of rank, by 
whom he acquired a handsome fortune. His acquaintance 
became extensive, and this, with his very popular manners, 
caused him to be chosen High Sheriff of the city of London, 
with William Lee, a brother of Richard Henry Lee, of Vir- 
ginia, under the celebrated John Wilkes, in 1774. Having 
become a banker, he was particularly in the confidence of 
the Earl of Chatham, at a critical period. His zeal for the 
independence of his native country was unmeasured. In 
October, 1775, he was arrested on a charge of high treason, 
made against him by a sergeant in the royal guards, named 
Richardson, also an American. He charged Sayre with 
having asserted that he and others intended to seize the 
King on his way to Parliament, to take possession of the 
town, and to overturn the present government. Mr. Sayre 
was known to be a friend to the patriots, and on this charge 
Lord Rockford, one of the secretaries of state, caused his 



BONAPABTE'S PABK. 25 

papers to be seized and himself to be arrested. He was 
committed to the Tower, from which he was released by 
Lord Mansfield, who granted a writ of habeas corpus. Sub- 
sequently he was tried and acquitted. He prosecuted Lord 
Kockford for seizing his papers, and the court awarded him 
a verdict of $5,000 damages, conditioned upon his proving 
his loyalty to the King. The condition proved a bar to the 
recovery of the money, and he was obliged to suffer a heavy 
pecuniary loss in costs, besides the personal indignity. His 
confinement produced his ruin. His banking-house failed, 
he lost everything, and was obliged to leave England. He 
was employed by Dr. Franklin upon several important mis- 
sions, and was for some time his private secretary. In 1777 
he accompanied Arthur Lee on his mission to the court of 
Frederick the Great, and was there at the time of the rob- 
bery of the American Legation.* Wraxall, who was in 
Berlin at tbe time, in his "Posthumous Memoirs," attributed 
it to the British minister. There is extant a MS. narra- 
tive on the subject, drawn up by Mr. Sayre himself, in the 
possession of William J. Duane, Esq., of Philadelphia. 
After leaving Berlin, at the time of the first suggestion of 
the project of armed neutrality, Mr. Sayre visited Copen- 
hagen, Stockholm and St. Petersburg, and in each of these 
capitals procured ample supplies for the support of Ameri- 
can independence. 

After the peace of 1783, Mr. Sayre and his wife, Elizabeth, 
returned to this country, with their only son, Samuel Wilson 
Sayre, and purchased Point Breeze, near Bordentown, after- 
wards part of the Bonaparte Park. In 1795 he was an active 
opponent of the administration of General Washington, and 
had a large share in the attacks on " Jay's Treaty."f 

On the 28th of L>ecember, 1801, the trustees, Stephen and 
Elizabeth Sayre, conveyed Point Breeze to their son,. Samuel 
Wilson Sayre, and on the 2d of May, 1803, Samuel Wilson 

* Diplomatic Correspondence H, 65-79. 
fGibbs Wolcott, vol. 1, page 247. 



26 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

reconveyed the property to William Burns, of Bordentown, 
in trust for his mother, Elizabeth Sayre. From that time 
until July 2d, 1816, Stephen Sayre and family occupied the 
Park. He had a race-course on part of what is now occu- 
pied by the shirt manufacturing company's buildings. 
Afterwards, his son, Samuel Wilson, went to Virginia, 
where he married a daughter of Philip Lightfoot Grymes, 
of Brandon, Middlesex county. She died early, leaving one 
daughter, Mary, who married Cartel' Braxton, and had 
many children, all daughters. He afterwards married Vir- 
ginia Bassett, by whom he had ten children. Four grew to 
manhood — two are now living, viz.: Burwell Bassett Sayre, 
of Frankford, Ky., and Win. Sayre, of Charleston, S. C. 
The former has two children, Virginia and Elizabeth; the 
latter has one child. " Stephen Sayre," says Mr. Read, "at 
one time lived in Richmond, V^i., where it was understood 
he was an agent of Miranda. He and his wife died within 
a few hours of each other, at an advanced age, at the house 
of their son, S. W. Sayre, at Brandon. They were buried 
together, on the estate, one funeral service being said for 
both," S. W. Sayre died at the same place, December, 
1824. 

Mr. William Duane, of Philadelphia, found among his 
father's papers a pass permitting Stephen Sayre to leave 
Paris. It was signed by Robespierre and the chiefs of the 
French revolution, in red ink — very significant of the 
bloody hands of the signers. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 27 



CHAPTER II. 

Joseph Bonaparte — His Marriage — Diplomatic Connections — 
Declines the Crown of Lombardy — Accepts that of Naples — 
His Reign — Proclaimed King of Spain — Fights for His Crown 
— Wins and Loses it — Counselor of the Empress — Yv t aterloo. 

THE refuge in exile found by Joseph Bonaparte in our 
country, where with benign philosophy he enjoyed the 
elegant seclusion of a private gentleman so much more than 
he had the cares and lienors of royalty, and all that pertains 
to his personal character and career, must for many years 
prove a subject of deep interest to many readers. 

Joseph Bonaparte, the elder brother of Napoleon, was 
born in the island of Corsica, in 1768. He was educated at 
a college in Burgundy, where he completed his course of 
studies with great distinction. His predilections were to 
follow a military life, but, in obedience to the last wish of 
his father, he returned to Corsica. When the mighty era 
of 1789 dawned, he embraced the cause of the revolution 
with ardor, the Bonaparte brothers being among its most 
eager partisans. In 1792 Joseph received an appointment 
in the civil service, under the celebrated Paoli. The fol- 
lowing year Corsica renounced France, the English took 
possession of the island, and the Bonaparte family fled to 
Marseilles, where Joseph received an appointment as com- 
missary of war. 

In 1794, when he was dependent on his salary for sup- 
port, lie married Julie, daughter of M. Clari, one of the 
richest capitalists of Marseilles. Her sister Eugenie mar- 
ried Marshal Bernadotte, afterwards King of Sweden, and 
became the mother of King Oscar. Joseph accompanied 
his brother, General Bonaparte, as a commissary of war, in 
his Italian campaign, and was sent by him to demonstrate 
to the Directory at Paris the necessity of concluding a 



28 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

treaty of peace with the King of Sardinia. The same year, 
1796, and the next year, Joseph was a member of the 
Council of Five Hundred. Soon after, he was appointed by 
the Directory minister plenipotentiary, and subsequently 
envoy extraordinary, to the court of Rome, to open import- 
ant negotiations with his Holiness Pope Pius VI. The 
treaty was in progress, but the intrigues of the Austrian 
party, and the imprudence of the Republicans of Rome, 
who relied upon French countenance and support to enable 
them to effect a revolution in the city, defeated it. An 
attempt to inaugurate a revolution was made December 
28th, 1707, a few of the populacy were shot by the Pope's 
troops, in the court-yard of the palace of the French ambas 
sador, and General Duphor, one of Joseph's suite, was killed 
at his 'side. The General was to have been married to 
Eugenie Clari, Joseph's sister-in-law, subsequently Queen 
of Sweden. 

The Directory at Paris, through Talleyrand, expressed to 
Joseph that they were well satisfied with " the courage, the 
judgment and the presence of mind which he had shown on 
the trying occasion, and the magnanimity with which he 
had supported the honor of the French name." The gov- 
ernment then offered him the embassy to Prussia, but, being 
a member of the Council of Five Hundred, he declined. 

In the Council he was distinguished for sound sense and 
moderation. On one occasion, when the Directory, through 
a joint committee, made an attack upon Napoleon, who was 
then in Egypt, Joseph defended him with so much energy 
and ability that his accusers were confounded, and a unan- 
imous vote was obtained in his favor. A few days after- 
wards he was appointed secretary of the Council of Five 
Hundred. One who was well acquainted with him at this 
time describes him as " polite and affable, of a cool and 
steady disposition, sagacious, intrepid, and peculiarly qual- 
ified for civil and diplomatic employments." His brother 
Lucien, president of the Council of Five Hundred, says that 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 29 

Joseph possessed the esteem and friendship of his colleagues, 
and it was supposed that, in concert with Lucien, he pre- 
pared the return of Napoleon from Egypt; and it is certain 
that by his influence and personal exertions, he contributed 
to the success of the revolution of the 18th Brumaire — 9th 
November, 1799. 

Under the Consulate, Joseph was a member of the Coun- 
cil of State, and in 1800 he was appointed to settle the 
differences between France and the United States, which 
terminated in a treaty in 1800. In 1801 he signed the 
treaty between France and Austria. He negotiated the 
treaty of Amiens in 1802, and put on foot the joint action 
of France, England, Spain and Holland, by which the dis- 
graceful system of rapine and piracy of the corsairs of Bar- 
bary was suppressed. In 1803 he was created a Senator and 
a member of the Grand Council of the Legion of Honor. 
He sifi-ned the concordat with the court of Rome, and the 
guarantee treaty with Austria, Russia, Prussia and Bavaria. 
At Boulogne, in 1804, he commanded the fourth regiment. 
Napoleon being proclaimed Emperor, the Senate declared 
Joseph and his children heirs of the throne, on failure of 
issue of Napoleon. In the same year he declined the crown 
of Lombardy, refusing to enter into engagements which 
appeared to press hard upon that nation. 

During the campaign of Austerlitz he remained in the 
direction of affairs at Paris. Soon after that battle he was 
placed in command of the army sent for the conquest of the 
kingdom of Naples. In February, 1806, he entered that 
kingdom at the head of 40,000 troops, and soon after his 
brother conferred upon him the crown, he still remaining 
Grand Elector and a Prince of France. Joseph, however, 
was forced to obtain his crown with his sword. Being suc- 
cessful, his administration of the affairs of the kingdom was 
at once wise," liberal and vigorous. Being an Italian, he 
understood the prejudices, sympathies and wants of the 
people, and, as for as the circumstances of his accession to 



30 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

the throne would admit, won the good will of his subjects. 
His reign over Naples lasted about two years and a half. 

In 1808, at the desire of his brother and the discontented 
nobles of Spain, he accepted with great reluctance the crown 
of that nation, but not until he had obtained from the 
Emperor a guarantee that the constitution of Naples, which 
was in a great measure a summary of his own most import- 
ant laws, should be preserved. The accession of Joseph to 
the throne of Spain was formally recognized by all the pow- 
ers of Europe except England. A desperate struggle for 
the possession and maintenance of his crown ensued, which 
lasted as long as he possessed it. Supported by a French 
army of 270,000 men, and an auxiliary Spanish force, com- 
manded by the great soldiers, Marshals Soult, Massena, 
Ney, Jourdan, Bessieres, Lannes, Mortier, Victor, Mar- 
mont, Augereau and Suchet, and, for a time, by the 
Emperor in person, for four years and a half he contended 
against England and her gold, Spain and Portugal. Enter- 
ing Madrid, he scattered his gold in the streets, which was 
picked up by the French soldiers. Upon his coronation he 
threw open the theatres to the public, which were thronged 
by the French. His saloons were crowded with his suite, 
and French officers. His courtiers were the discontented, 
ambitious or avaricious Spanish nobles. It is true, he in 
person commanded at the victory of Ocana, and planned 
and executed the brilliant campaign of Andalusia, yet 
Joseph, though a king, in point of power was the mere 
shadow of what a king ought to be. The French minister 
of war at Paris corresponded directly with chiefs of the 
various armies in Spain, and orders for their movements, 
whether to retrograde or advance, were frequently issued 
by him. The haughty military chiefs acknowledged no 
authority beside the Emperor, and listened to no commands 
that conflicted with those from Paris. At last the Emperor 
issued a decree, instituting military governments in the 
provinces of Spain. Joseph, actuated by a proper spirit, in 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 31 

a letter to his brother, announced his determination to leave 
the country if the system of military governments was not 
abandoned. He proceeded in person to Paris, where he had 
an interview with his brother, but was induced by him to 
return to Madrid. The situation of the Emperor was then 
so complicated and critical (the war with Russia being about 
to open) that he could not yield to the wishes of the King. 
The allies in the Peninsula prosecuted the war with renewed 
vigor, the fatal battle of Vittoria was fought, and-the reign 
or career of Joseph in Spain was ended, after four years and 
a half of struggle. 

Joseph returned to Paris, where, during the Emperor's 
absence at the head of the army in Russia, he remained in 
command of the capital and acted as counselor of the 
Empress. When the allied armies arrived under the walls 
of Paris, Joseph, who had done all in his power to rally the 
nation, by instructions from the Emperor, retired with the 
Empress, his young son the King of Rome, and some of the 
grand dignitaries of the empire, to Blois. Napoleon abdi- 
cated at Fontainbleau. Joseph retired to Switzerland, 
where he remained with his family until the return of the 
Emperor from Elba, in March, 1815, when he met him and 
accompanied him to Paris. 

At Waterloo, amid defeat and carnage, went down for- 
ever the sun of Napoleon. Joseph retired to America, 
where he originally expected to join his brother, whom he 
left at the Isle d'Aix, making arrangements for his 
departure to the New World. Eate disposed of him differ- 
ently, but Joseph remained in France until after he knew 
the Emperor had left it. 



32 BONAPARTE'S PARK 



CHAPTER III. 

Mailliard's Account of His Escape to America — Courtesy of Henry 
Clay — His Residence in Philadelphia — Why He Located at 
Bordentown — Permission to Hold Real Estate Granted. 

THE following deeply interesting account, never before 
given to the public, of the escape of King Joseph from 
France, and his voyage to America, was communicated to 
the author by Adolph Mailliard, of San Rafael, California, 
the son of Louis Mailliard, the devoted secretary and most 
confidential friend of the ex-King: 

"A few hours before embarking on the French brig 
which was to take him to the United States, Joseph sent 
Mailliard to the Emperor, with a letter urging again his 
brother to exchange places and make his escape from 
France in Joseph's vessel. But Napoleon replied verbally 
to the messenger: 'Tell my brother that I have well con- 
sidered his offer, and that I cannot accept it. It would seem 
like flying away from danger: besides, I could not leave 
behind me so many brave officers, who have sacrificed 
everything for me. Tell my brother that I hope he will 
escape the cruisers <>i' England, and arrive safely.' 

"Joseph, on receiving this last answer, sailed immediately 
for America. Had Napoleon accepted, lie would probably 
have reached New York safely, as every precaution had 
been taken to avoid detection. The vessel selected was a 
small, common-looking brig, the ' Commerce,' of 200 tons, 
loaded with a cargo of Bordeaux wines for a market. She 
was a fast sailer, and was strongly built, and was com- 
manded by a skilful captain, Messervey, a Swede by birth. 
Although three times on the high seas the brig was stopped 
and searched by English frigates, which were on the look- 
out for Napoleon, the passports and papers of the passengers 
on board had been so carefully prepared under fictitious 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 33 

names, that they were not discovered. The captain of the 
brig did not even know who they were until a few days 
after Joseph had landed in New York. 

"The newspapers having published an account of his suc- 
cessful escape, and given the name of the vessel, the poor 
captain could hardly contain himself, and called at once on 
Louis Mailliard, who assured him that it was true, and pre- 
sented him, in all formality, to King Joseph. < But why did 
you not tell me?' said he, ' I never would have betrayed 
him.' Mailliard had to explain to him that it was thought 
best to conceal the real names and positions of his passen- 
gers, for fear that he might have shown some hesitation or 
less assurance when boarded by the English officers. 'I 
think you were right,' said the captain: 'I would have sunk 
my vessel rather than let them come on board ; you were 
right !' Joseph was much amused by his demonstration of 
Bonapartism, and sent him a very handsome present, to 
show that he had appreciated his treatment on board."' 

" The Napoleon Dynasty : or, the History of the Bona- 
parte Family," by « The Berkeley Men," on pages 385 and 
386, thus says of Joseph's entry into this country: 

"On his arrival at New York he found all the hotels 
thronged with guests; Mr. Jennings, of the City Hotel, told 
him that he had given his last suite of rooms to Mr. Clay, 
who had just returned from the mission to negotiate the 
treaty of (ih, 'lit. When Mr. Clay heard of the circum- 
stance he immediately introduced Joseph to his apartments; 
and as they entered the room where dinner tor Mr. Clay's 
party had ben. provided, the American statesman said, 
'And here is a dinner ready for yourself and your suite: 
The courteous offer was accepted, and an acquaintance so 
pleasantly begun ever after continued." 

Soon after Joseph's arrival in America he appears to have 
axed upon Philadelphia as his place of residence. We are 
under the impression the first house he occupied in that 
3 



34 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

city, was on the west side of Ninth street, corner of a small 
private street or alley, above Spruce. This house, of brick 
and rough-cast, is of a peculiar construction, with an 
entrance on the side, in the alley-way. Mr. William John 
Potts's grandmother, now aged 81, says it was built for a 
Captain Meany, and that Joseph Bonaparte was the second 
occupant of it. Afterwards it was a club-house, and is still 
standing. Joseph also resided in the house now known as 
the " Bingham Hotel,'* at the southeast corner of Eleventh 
and Market streets. This building, however, has been sev- 
eral times altered and rebuilt. Prince Charles and his 
wife, ■ Zenaide, resided there with him, and his grandson, 
Joseph Lucien Charles Napoleon, was born then-, Febru- 
ary 13th, 1824. 

"Scribner's Monthly*' for January, 1871, contains an arti- 
cle entitled "Fairmount Park.'" On page 230, it says: "Far- 
ther on, above 'Egglesfield,' is c Sweetbrier,' and beyond 
it 'Landsdowne,* which, perhaps, of all the historical places 
in the park, possesses most interest to the general public. 
This was the magnificent residence of John Penn, the last 
colonial governor of Pennsylvania. * * At the close of 
the revolution they were purchased by Mr. Bingham, grand- 
father of the late Lord Ashburton, and subsequently were 
the residence of Joseph Bonaparte, ex-King of Spain and 
Count de Survilliers. Landsdowne is described by many 
of the older residents of Philadelphia as a regal place. The 
house was spacious and palatial, the grounds were laid out 
in winding walks and diversified with open spaces of clean, 
green sward, and magnificent groves of majestic trees. 
Here and there were large green-houses, filled with rare 
flowers and tropical fruits. In the rear of the house was 
a stable of grand proportions. * * In the adjacent glen 
was an elegant bath-house.* ' 

After Joseph settled at Bordentown, he rented of the city 
of Philadelphia one of the then elegant houses of the Girard 
Trust Fund, in Girard row, Chestnut street, below Twelfth. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 35 

This he occupied for years, as a city residence. Before the 
houses were built, Joseph wished to purchase the ground, 
and the following anecdote in regard to it is copied from 
the " Sunday Dispatch" of that city, of January 28th, 1877: 
" One day at a dinner given to Girard by the Count de Sur- 
villiers — which was the ex-King's title in this country — the 
subject was broached and the Count offered to pay Girard 
any fair price he would ask. Girard said, 'Well, now what 
will you give? What do you consider a fair price?' 'I'll 
tell you,' said the Count, ' I will cover the block from Elev- 
enth to Twelfth, and from Chestnut to Market streets, with 
silver half dollars!' Girard, who was sipping his soup at 
the time, balanced his spoon for a second on the end of his 
finger, and, with a calculating look out of his one eye, said 
very slowly, 'Yes, Mons. Le Count — if you will stand them 
up edgeways.'* The bargain was not closed." The writer 
adds : " The above is strictly true. I have it from one of 
the King's household, still living in this city." 

For some time after the Count's arrival in this country 
he traveled extensively through its different sections, but 
we are under the impression, more with a view to obtain a 
correct idea of it than to select a spot to settle on. It is 
well known that some years prior to the final abdication of 
Napoleon, the contingency of his being forced to abandon 
France and seek refuge in America, sometimes presented 
itself to his mind. The late Esquire Edward Robbins stated 
to the author that Louis Mailliard related to him, that once 
when the Emperor was speaking upon this subject in pres- 
ence of Joseph and some of his officers, he unrolled a map 
of the United States, and placing his finger upon a spot in 
New Jersey, said, in substance: "If I am ever forced to fly 
to America, I shall settle somewhere between Philadelphia 



*This may indicate the value Mr. Girard then set upon this square of ground 1 . 
By his will, dated February 10th, 1830, he directed the college subsequently erected at 
"Peel Hall," in the northern section of the city, to be built in the centre of this 
square. — Arguments of the Deffs counsel, etc., Phila., 18-14, pages 291 and 307. 



3(3 . BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

and New York, where I can receive the earliest intelligence 
from France by ships arriving at either port." This idea 
probably governed the Count in his location. 

Henry Bradshaw Fearon, an Englishman traveling in the 
United States, published a narrative of his travels. In the 
third edition of this book, printed in London in 1819, page 
132, the author says, under date of October 2d, 1817: "In 
the evening I arrived at Trenton, which is the capital of 
New Jersey. General Moreau's stables are still standing in 
this neighborhood. His dwelling-house was consumed by 
fire. King Joseph was negotiating for a house here, in 
anticipation of his brother Lucien's arrival ; the price was 
to have been $30,000." In " Beecher's Magazine" for 
1870, in a sketch of Admiral Stewart, it is stated the admi- 
ral induced Joseph Bonaparte to select Bordentown as his 
place of residence. In a letter to the author, Edward S. 
Ellis, Esq., the author of that sketch, says: " It was Stewart 
himself who told me that Bonaparte was inclined to settle 
somewhere else, and he (the commodore) urged him to 
come to Bordentown. I think he arranged to come to 
Trenton, or some other point (near by), when the parties 
with whom he was negotiating suddenly raised their price, 
and he, becoming disgusted, drew off." 

In 1816 the Count applied to the legislature of New Jer- 
sey for permission to hold real estate, without becoming 
naturalized. That body, duly appreciating his position in 
relation to France, and the honorable motives which actu- 
ated him, after due consideration complied with his request. 
A copy of the act was sent to him by Governor Mahlon 
Dickerson, accompanied by a courteous note, dated 28th 
January, 1817. In 1825 the state of New York granted 
him the same privilege. It is said a similar application to 
the legislature of Pennsylvania was refused. 

King Joseph of Spain, settling in our state, and building 
the magnificent dwellings, which he adorned with rare 
paintings, statuary, etc., and spending his money with great 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 37 

profusion, through jealousy, caused persons residing in 
neighboring slates to call New Jersey " Spain," and Jersey- 
men " Spaniards." The terras thus jokingly applied have 
come down long after their origin has been forgotten, 
except by a few men of the past generation. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Joseph's First Visit to Bordentown — His Agent Purchases the 
Park — First House— Second House — Its Destruction — Letter 
of Thanks to the Citizens — Description of Third House — Of 
the Park — Of the Lake — Underground Passages. 

IN the spring of 1816, as Doctor William Burns, who had 
been a surgeon in the British army during our revolu- 
tionary war, and who subsequently settled at Bordentown, 
was returning from White Hill, lie was accosted in French 
by two gentlemen riding in a close carriage. They made 
inquiries as to what land was for sale in the neighborhood. 
As the Doctor held a deed of trust for Point Breeze, and 
knew Mr. Sayre wished to dispose of it, he entered the car- 
riage and drove with them to the Point, and presented them 
to Mr. Sayre. The stranger proved to be Joseph Bonaparte, 
accompanied by Mr. Garret, who had come from Philadel- 
phia in search of a place to locate 

Shortly afterwards James Carret, as agent of Joseph 
Bonaparte, commenced buying what was afterwards the 
extensive park near Bordentown. Taking the title in his 
own name, on the 27th day of August, 1816, he executed a 
declaration of trust, as follows: "That lie bought the prop- 
erty as the friend and agent of Joseph Buonaparte, Count de 
Survilliers, and that he would, at any time, on demand made 
for that purpose, convey any or all the tracts so purchased, 
to any person designated by the said Joseph Buonaparte." 
On the 10th of April, 1817, an indenture tripartite was 
executed by Joseph Bonaparte, James Garret and G. Rein- 
holdt, by which the title in the said lands was vested in 
George Reinholdt, The legislature of New Jersey having 
passed an act enabling Joseph Bonaparte to hold real 

*E. S. Allen, Bordentown. 



B OX A PA R TE'S PA UK. 39 

estate, the said George Reiriholdt, by indenture, conveyed 
all the tracts of land to Joseph. 

The Count's real estate in America consisted of land, 
divided into ten farms, on the border of Crosswicks creek, 
extending up to opposite the village of Groveville, and a 
park of about one thousand acres.* This park, known as 
Bonaparte's Park, is situated on the elevated plateau of 
Bordentown, on the south side of the creek, and extends 
from its confluence with the Delaware to the White Horse 
bridge, more than a mile above. It is bounded on the south 
by the Trenton road, and is enclosed by a high picket fence. 
It was at once improved by the erection of numerous stately 
buildings, the laying out of several miles of carriage-drives, 
and the planting of many trees. A huge, substantial frame 
building stood in the park when purchased, which the 
Count for some time occupied. This he sold to Mr. 
M'Knight, who removed it to the eastern side of Farns- 
worth avenue, north of Park street, where it was rebuilt, 
and is now the handsome residence of Mahloii Hutchinson, 
Esq. The first mansion built by the Count was immediately 
back of the main entrance, near the vd^v of the bluff that 
overhangs the creek. From the cellar was a bricked under- 
ground passage-way, some ten feet wide and fifty feet long, 
leading to the side of the bluff. From its entrance to the 
creek was an inclined plane of easy ascent, and of about the 
same length. During the burning of this building, nearly 
all the pipes of wine and casks of liquor in the cellar were 
rolled down this passage-way into the creek, and saved. 
Mr. Fearon, the English traveler before quoted, in contin- 
uation ^ays : "At six o'clock in the morning we recom- 
menced our journey for Philadelphia. Joseph Bonaparte's 
house is situated on the Jersey banks of the river Delaware; 
in appearance it is equal to a moderate English country 

*The last will of Joseph Bonaparte, a true copy of which is now in the possession 
of Philip Bellemere, of Bordentown, one of the Count's household. 



40 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

seat. He is said to have bought it for $10,000, and to have 
laid out $20,000 more in having it completed in a splendid 
style. At present he is from home, having gone to view 
Niagara Falls. His associates are French gentlemen, but 
he is easy of access, and appears to participate in the inter- 
ests of the country." 

The Count's mansion was consumed by fire on the 3d of 
January, 1820. The following account, copied from the 
" Columbia Herald," a weekly newspaper published at 
Woodbury, K J., and taken from the "Trenton Federal" 
at the time, is interesting : 

" Wednesday, January 13, 1820. 

" On the 3d inst. the elegant mansion of Joseph Bona- 
parte, at Point Breeze, near Bordentown, in this state, acci- 
dentally took fire and was destroyed. The fire is said to 
have originated in one of the upper rooms, and broke out 
between one and two P. M. Many articles of furniture, 
and of the ornaments and paintings, we understand were 
saved through the exertions of the domestics and neighbors. 
The proprietor was in this town (Trenton) when the fire 
broke out, on his return from a visit to New York, and 
reached Point Breeze in the midst of the conflagration. 
The walls of the two wings, which were of brick, we are 
informed, are standing. The middle building, which was 
of frame, was of course destroyed." 

Miss Maria H. Nutt, of Bordentown, in speaking of the 
fire, states : " The house was burned down through the 
carelessness of a gentleman whom the Count entertained, 
who went oft* to Philadelphia and left a wood fire burning 
in his bed-chamber, and locked the door, taking the key 
with him. The ladies of Bordentown turned out with their 
leathern fire-buckets, passed water up and down long lines, 
as the manner of those days was, to assist in putting out 
the fire." 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 41 

The Count returned his thanks to the citizens, in the fol- 
lowing letter to one of the magistrates of the town : 

" Point Breeze, January 8th, 1820. 
"To "William Snowden, Esq., Bordentown, N. J.: 

" Sir — You have shown so much interest for me since I 
have been in this country, and especially since the event of 
the 3d inst., that I cannot doubt it will afford you pleasure 
to make known to your fellow-citizens how much I feel all 
they did for me on that occasion. Absent myself from my 
house, they collected, by a spontaneous movement, on the 
first appearance of the fire, which they combated with 
united courage and perseverance; and when they found it 
was impossible to extinguish it, exerted themselves to save 
all the flames had not devoured before their arrival and 
mine. 

"All the furniture, statues, pictures, money, plate, gold, 
jewels, linen, books, and in short, everything that was not 
consumed, has been most scrupulously delivered into the 
hands of the people of my house. In the night of the fire, 
and during the next day, there were brought to me, by 
laboring men, drawers, in which I have found the proper 
quantity of pieces of money, and medals of gold, and val- 
uable jewels, which might have been taken with impunity. 
This event has proved to me how much the inhabitants of 
Bordentown appreciate the interest I have always felt for 
them ; and shows that men in general are good, when they 
have not been perverted in their youth by a bad education; 
when they maintain their dignity as men, and feel that true 
greatness is in the soul, and depends upon ourselves. 

" I cannot omit, on this occasion, what I have said so 
often, that the Americans are, without contradiction, the 
most happy people I have known; still more happy if they 
understand well their own happiness. 

" I pray you not to doubt of my sincere regard. 

" Joseph, Count de Survilliers." 



42 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

In regard to this letter, an Englishman, in "Notions of 
the Americans ; picked up by a Traveling Bachelor," 1828, 
in a foot-note to vol. 1, page 300, says: * * "The 
writer understood that the thanks were well enough 
received, for they were usual, but a momentary offence was 
given to the inhabitants by any man presuming to thank 
them for common honesty. The people of the vicinity 
have, however, already forgotten their pique, for they speak 
of their neighbor with great kindness." 

Besides the great loss to the Count, there were many 
paintings and sculpture of rare merit destroyed. The 
ruins were pulled down and every trace of the building 
removed, except the observatory, which was surrounded by 
a stone enclosure and left standing. 

In constructing his new house, the Count used his stable, 
which was located in front of the first mansion, and was 
not injured by the fire. By alterations and extensions he 
soon converted it into a structure hardly inferior to his 
former dwelling. It was plain, long and rather low, and of 
brick covered with white plaster. It had its grand hall and 
staircase; its great dining-rooms, art gallery and library; its 
pillars and marble mantels, covered with sculpture of mar- 
velous workmanship; its statues, busts and paintings of rare 
merit; its heavy chandeliers, and its hangings and tapestry, 
fringed with gold and silver. With the large and finely 
carved folding-doors of the entrance, and the liveried ser- 
vants and attendants, it had the air of the residence of a 
distinguished foreigner, unused to the simplicity of our 
countrymen. A tine lawn stretched on the front, and a 
large garden of rare flowers and plants, interspersed with 
fountains and chiseled animals, in the rear. The park, 
which was laid out in the style of the Escurial grounds, 
was traversed by nearly twelve miles of drives and bridle- 
paths, winding through clustering pines and oaks, and 
planted on every knoll with statuary. Rustic cots or rain 
shelters, bowers and seats, sheltered springs and solitary 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 43 

retreats were interspersed. Over several of the small 
streams and gullies that wound through and diversified the 
grounds, were thrown rustic bridges. In digging for the 
foundation of one, the " Savage," near the creek, a number 
of Indian relics were found, from which the bridge derived 
its name. 

A narrow stream, which rises beyond the Thorntown 
road, winds down through part of the ground between the 
mansion and the city. The valley of this little stream grad- 
ually increases in width until it crosses the Trenton road 
or Park street, where it expands into a broad lagoon, in 
which the tide of the creek ebbed and flowed to this point. 
The Count, at great expense and labor, threw a brick arch 
over the stream and built a long causeway, some twenty 
feet high, grading the road to nearly a level. Across the 
lower end of the lagoon he built an embankment, separa- 
ting it from the creek. This formed a most picturesque 
lake, some two hundred yards broad and nearly half a mile 
long. The bluffs on either side were bold and rather 
abrupt, that towards the town being covered with a heavy 
growth of timber. On the other side, along the edge of the 
lake, a fine carriage-drive was constructed, leading oft* sharp 
to the right near its end, up a wild ravine and under a high 
stone bridge. In the lake were several islands with velvet 
grass, young trees and beautiful shrubbery. Swans sported 
on the surface of the water, stairways wound down the 
banks, and little fleets of pleasure-boats were moored in it 
and a cove of the creek. From the shore of the lake to his 
house was a subterraneous passage, walled up and ceiled 
with brick, with heavy doors. It was about forty feet long, 
and contained two passage-ways, one leading to the cellar 
and one into the house. The third door was the entrance 
to the ice-houses. Extending beyond the wall containing 
the doors, some ten feet, was a greater arch of substantial 
and massive structure. The entrance leading to the man- 
sion was connected by a covered way with the " Lake 



44 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

House," in which resided his daughter Zenaide. This pas- 
sage or long shed, built upon the side of the bluff, was 
faced with lattice-work, and afforded a shelter from the 
inclemency of the weather. The entrance also served as a 
shelter-way in case of sudden showers, for parties who had 
been pleasuring on the water, and with this idea the Count 
had carved, in Italian, over the doorway, " Not ignorant of 
evil, I learn to succor the unfortunate." The two short 
underground passage-ways above described are the only 
ones ever constructed by the Count, and, with the observa- 
tory, gave rise to the fanciful stories that the ex-King kept 
a sentinel posted upon the tower to watch for any hostile 
French or Spanish frigates that might sail up the Delaware 
to capture him. The story that he dug subterranean pas- 
sages all through his grounds, the doors of which were of 
iron, and could be closed and bolted on the inside, and 
which led, seemingly, into the bowels of the earth, and had 
no egress, was all the pure invention of an imaginative 
writer. The end of the first described passage, where it 
entered the cellar of the old house, is walled up. Some 
inquisitive person went to the trouble of breaking a hole 
through the bricks, and was rewarded for his pains by the 
sight of the earth on the other side. 

In a letter to the author, Mr. A. Mailliard says : " I will 
now refer to some nonsense I have read about some subter- 
ranean galleries, etc., built by Joseph to escape from his 
home. The truth is simply this : " When Joseph built the 
" lake house" for his daughter Zenaide and her household, he 
connected it by an underground gallery with the main 
house, for the facility of service, and for her own use in bad 
weather. She used to come by that passage to her father's 
house." 

Surrounding the mansion were the stables, servants' 
lodges, out-buildings, etc., and upon the ground the farm- 
er's and gardener's houses. 



BONAPABTE'S PABK. 45 



CHAPTER V. 

The Lake House — His Wife, Tribute to — His Daughter Zenaide — 
Sketch of Prince Charles — His Grandchildren — His Daughter 
Charlotte — Sketch of Napoleon Lewis. 

ON THE borders of the lake, near the road, was the " Lake 
House," built by the Count for Prince Charles and Zena- 
ide. In it the Prince had his cabinet of birds, insects, etc. It 
is a large, three-story, brick structure, covered with plaster, 
and is yet standing in a good state of preservation. The 
ceilings are low, windows rather small, and entrance large. 
With its white walls and green lattice shutters, it presents a 
plain but neat appearance. 

The Count's wife, Marie Julie Clari, was prevented, by 
delicate health, from attempting a sea voyage to join him 
in exile. She and her sister, the Queen of Sweden, were 
remarkable for their personal beauty, and were much 
esteemed through life for their amiable character, exhibited 
in every vicissitude. Madame Junot said of her : "Madame 
Joseph Bonaparte is an angel of goodness. Pronounce her 
name, and all the indigent, all the unfortunate, in Paris and 
Naples will repeat it with blessings." She, too, was an 
exile from France, residing in Florence. The sincerity of 
the love of Joseph for her can never be doubted. If the 
whole course of his life and his correspondence with her 
did not prove it, the following touching tribute, expressed 
in his last will, should remove all doubt: 

" I would have wished to name and appoint as my sole 
heiress, my dear and well-beloved wife, Marie Julie. In 
the course of our long and happy union my confidence in 
her has been full and entire. Our property has been in com- 
mon as well as our hearts. In leaving her the mistress of 
all that I possess, except the several legacies, I know well I 

dear daughter Zenaide. I 



46 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

shall then have set my daughter the example of the kindest 
confidence and most sacred respect which she most continue 
to have for the character of the best of mothers, the most 
virtuous of women. I desire to. testify to her strongly my 
affection as well as my gratitude for her tender attachment, 
and to guarantee to her with all my power the position and 
tranquility which she so justly deserves." 

The Count had no sons, but his two daughters joined 
him in America. The eldest, the Princess Zenaide Char- 
lotte Julie, born July 8th, 1804, married her cousin, Charles 
Lucien, Prince de Canino, anil Musignano, son of Lucien 
Bonaparte, at Brussels, June 29th, 1822. 

At St. Helena, Napoleon informed Las Casas that, 
toAvards the close of the year 1813, when he concluded the 
treaty of Valencay, in which he recognized Ferdinand as 
Sovereign of Spain, he yielded to a former proposal of 
Ferdinand to choose a wife for him, and his marriage with 
Zenaide, his brother's eldest daughter, was decided upon; 
but circumstances changed, and Ferdinand desired the 
marriage deferred. " You can no longer," he wrote, "sup- 
port me with your arms, and I ought not to make my wife 
a title of exclusion in the eyes of my people." The 
Emperor assured Las Casas that had the affairs of 1814 
turned out differently, Ferdinand would unquestionably 
have accomplished his marriage with Joseph's daughter." 

Prince Charles and Zenaide joined the Count's family in 
America, where he gained a high reputation as an ornithol- 
ogist, which was increased by his subsequent labors after 
his return to Italy in 1828. In 1840 he inherited his 
princely titles, but continued to devote himself exclusively 
to scientific pursuits till 1S47, when, touching upon politics 
at Venice, he was expelled. At Rome he supported Pius 
IX as long as he adhered to a progressive policy, but when 
the Pope changed front he became a prominent leader of 
the revolutionists, was chosen president of the Constituent 
Assembly, and upheld the cause until the arrival of the 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 47 

French troops, in 1849, crushed out the life of the young 
Republic. 

Upon entering France, he was arrested by order of Napo- 
leon III, and sent to England. He was the founder and 
president of many scientific congresses in Italy. He wrote 
extensively on American and European ornithology and 
other branches of natural history. One of his principal 
works was " American Ornithology, or the Natural History 
of Birds inhabiting the United States, not given by Wil- 
son." A new edition of this work has just been issued 
under the following title: 

"American Ornithology; or, the Natural History of the 
Birds of the United States, by Alexander Wilson and 
Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte." The illustrations, 
notes ami lite by Sir Wm. Jardine, Bart. F. R. S. E., F. L. 
S.j 3 vols., half mo., with hand-colored plates of the birds. 
Large paper copy ; London, 1876. Price $36.00. — Sabine's 
A", w York Advertiser. 

He was the author of many other scientific works, and 
died in Paris, in 1857, aged 54 years. His wife, Zenaide, was 
an accomplished woman. She translated Schiller's dramas, 
and assisted her husband in his scientific labors. She was 
also quite an artist She died in Italy, in 1854. She bore 
him eight children, as follows: 

Joseph Lucien Charles Napoleon, Prince do Musignano, 
born in Philadelphia, February 13th, 1824. He inherited 
the Park and all the real estate of his grandfather in 
America, except the Groveville farm. Died in Rome in 
1865. 

Lucien Louis Joseph Napoleon, born in Rome, November 
15th, 1828, was ordained a priest, and in 1868 became a 
cardinal. 

Julie Charlotte Zenaide Pauline Letitia Desiree Barth- 
omee, born June 6th, 1830; married August 30th, 1847, to 
Alexandre Del Gallo, Marquis de Roccagiovine. 



48 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

Charlotte Honorine Josephine, born March 4th, 1832; 
married October 4th, 1848, to Comte Pierre Primole. 

Marie Desiree Eugenia Josephine Philomene, born March 
18th, 1835. 

Auguste Amilie Maximilliene Jacqueline, born Novem- 
ber 9th, 1836. 

Napoleon Gregoire Jacques Phillipe, born February 9th, 
1839. He married an Italian princess, had the title of 
Highness conferred upon him in 1861, and served in 
Mexico under Marshal Bazine. 

Joseph's youngest (laughter, Charlotte, who had been 
living with him for several years, returned to Italy to rejoin 
her mother. In " Lippincott's Magazine" for December, 
1870, page 673, is an article on "Impromptus, by Nicholas 
Biddle." Among those quoted, is a poem of thirty-four 
lines, to Countess Charlotte Survilliers, on her embarking 
for Europe, written in her album, on board the steamboat 
"Philadelphia," July 11th, 1824. While in that country, 
in 1827, she married her cousin, Napoleon Louis, Grand 
Duke of Cleves and Berg, eldest son of Louis Bonaparte, 
King of Holland, by his Queen llortense Beauharnais, and 
brothei- of Napoleon III. He was recognized for a short 
time as King of Holland, his mother being regent. Upon 
the separation of his father and mother, the tribunal at 
Paris gave him to the former. He subsequently became an 
ardent liberal, and, during the revolutionary outbreak of 
1831, he and his brother Louis Napoleon organized the 
defensive operations of the Italian patriots, and were about 
to seize a fort and set free the prisoners, when their parents 
dissuaded them from compromising the Italian cause by 
giving to the French a pretext for deserting it. Soon after, 
he died at Pesaro, Italy, March 17th, 1831, aged 27 years. 
His death, and that of his cousin, the Duke de Reichstadt, 
made his brother, Louis Napoleon, according to the prece- 
dence accorded in the Emperor's will, heir to the French 
throne. He was noted for his scientific attainments, and 
published several works. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 49 



CHAPTER VI. 

Personal Appearance of Joseph — Interesting Visit — How He En- 
tertained His Guests. 

IN THE biographical sketch of Joseph Napoleon Bona- 
parte, Count de Survilliers, second edition, London, 
1833, so far endorsed by the Count that he inscribed in the 
copy now in the possession of Miss Maria H. Nutt, " C. J. 
IngersoH. Presented by the Count de Survillier," on page 
95, we tind : " In his person, Joseph so much resembled his 
brother Napoleon that, were he not taller, and considerably 
less stout, he might pass for him. In his habits, also, there 
is a marked similarity; Joseph, being extremely temperate 
nnd fond of early hours, generally retiring at ten o'clock 
and rising at four or five in the morning. * * * In 
consequence of his abstinence from excesses, although now 
past sixty, he has the constitution and strength of a man of 
forty." 

In the same book, on page 43, in a foot-note by the 
English editor, we find an extract from " The History of 
the War of Spain," by General Foy. In speaking of his 
assuming the crown of Spain, the General says 

" This Prince (Joseph) was for from coveting such a 
destiny. He was forty years old. His figure was graceful, 
and his manners elegant. He was fond of women, of the 
fine arts, and of literature. His conversation, methodical 
and abounding with observations, indicated a habitude of 
speaking, and a knowledge of mankind, only to be acquired 
in the midst of equality." 

In the same foot-note, on pages 44 and 45, the editor 
says : 

" The reader will not probably be displeased at seeing a 
quotation of the testimony borne by the illustrious Ber- 



50 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

nardin de St. Pierre, author of ' Paul and Virginia,' taken 
from the preface to the grand folio edition of his immortal 
romance. What renders this homage still more valuable is 
that Bernardin de St. Pierre openly professed republican 
doctrines. The passage only requires to be quoted : 

" 'About a year and a half ago (1804), I was invited by- 
one of the subscribers to the line edition of ' Paul and Vir- 
ginia,' to come and see him at his country house. He was 
a young father of a family, whose physiognomy announced 
the qualities of his mind. lie united in himself everything 
which distinguishes a son, a brother, a husband, a father, 
and a friend to humanity. He took me in private, and said : 
'My fortune, which I owe to the nation, affords me the 
means of being useful; add to my happiness by giving me 
an opportunity of contributing to your own." And the 
author finishes his recital of the interview with a few words 
which speak volumes: 'This philosopher, so worthy of a 
throne, if any throne was worthy of him, was Prince 
Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte.' " 

Garrit S. Cannon, Esq., a distinguished member of the 
legal profession, residing in Bordentown, in an article to 
"The Register" of that city, says: 

"I remember very distinctly the first time I ever saw 
Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte, Count de Survilliers; he had 
been absent in England for several years; had suddenly 
returned here and had resumed his residence at his elegant 
domain then and still known as the 'Park.' He was stand- 
ing with his secretary, Louis Mailliard, Esq., and other 
members of his suite, on the porch of Ivestler's hotel, 
awaiting the arrival of the train by the Camden and Amboy 
route. One could hardly believe that the plainly-dressed, 
affable, unaffected old gentleman in that group was really 
the ex-King of Spain, the brother of the great Emperor 
Napoleon. In stature, he was short; in his body, inclined 
to corpulency; but he had the distinguishing characteristics 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 51 

of the Bonapartes, which was the beauty and fairness of 
his complexion. It was peculiar and striking, as smooth 
and transparent as a woman's." Abbott, in his '» History 
of Napoleon," mentions this feature as a peculiar distinction 
of the whole family. 

In "A Sketch of Joseph Bonaparte, by Helen Beikeley," 
which appeared in "Godey's Lady's Book" for April, 1845, 
in which the author, her husband and niece are represented 
as spending some days at the Park, Helen Berkeley thus 
describes the first evening of their visit : 

"The tea-service removed, our host gave some private 
directions to the servants, which they obeyed by producing 
two handsomely-bound volumes, large enough to look (at 
the first glance) like a good-sized portfolio of engravings, 
rather than a book. One was placed upon a table, imme- 
diately under a chandelier, which threw upon it a perfect 
flood of light, and the other given to Mr. T." (Wm. Thi- 
b'aud, a member of his household) "to dispose of as he 
chose. The Count then arranged seats for Clara and 
myself at the table, ami Mr. T. invited his daughter and 
Mr. Sindly to join him at another table. Our host opened 
the book, which was full of costly engravings, representa- 
tions of Napoleon's life and the different warlike acts he 
had performed. He paused at every picture, and grew 
enthusiastic as he recounted the different scenes which had 
been thus splendidly commemorated. His cheek flushed 
and his eyes grew brighter as he proudly and affectionately 
exclaimed, 'There never was but one Napoleon/ Fre- 
quently he would sigh, and place his hand over his heart, 
and say, in a tone which perhaps his broken English ren- 
dered more touching, 'I sigh for the death of "my poor 
brother;' and at other times he would say, 'Oh, they did 
him great wrong; my brother had great wrongs, Madame, 
and now he is dead.' The excitement was at times painful, 
and averted my mind so completely from the pictures that 
I could not do justice to their merit." 



52 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

Helen Berkeley's description of the library, etc., is so 
so interesting, we venture upon quoting further from her. 
Of the next morning, she says : 

" We found the Count as full of vivacity and amiability 
as ever. When we arose from the table, he asked us if we 
would like to see his private library, and take a general 
tour of the house. Our answer was, as you may imagine, 
a joyful affirmative. Mr. T. ordered the key of the private 
library to be brought, and a servant preceded us upstairs 
with the key in his hand. The door was opened, we 
entered, it closed again, and I beard the servant lock the 
door and walk away. I looked around. The apartment 
was filled, or rather lined, with elegant book-cases and 
handsomely-bound books, but there was no door visible, 
and I was sure we were locked in. 

" It seemed rudeness to feel any uneasiness, yet it was 
unavoidable — the proceeding seemed so strange a one. At 
all events, I thought it some consolation to know we were 
all together. After we had walked around the room and 
examined the books and a few paintings that hung on the 
wall, and many rich vases which had belonged to Napoleon, _ 
the Count touched a secret spring, and several rows of skil- 
fully painted book-cases flew back and displayed a set of 
drawers. These he opened, and drew out a number of 
caskets containing splendid jewels of all descriptions. Sev- 
eral clusters looked like jeweled handles of swords; others, 
portions of crowns rudely broken off'; others, like lids of 
small boxes; many of them were ornaments entire. He 
showed us the crown and rings he wore when King of 
Spain; also, the crown, robe and jewels in which Napoleon 
was crowned. When our eyes had been sufficiently dazzled 
by the glare of diamonds and emeralds, to satisfy him, he 
touched another concealed spring, which gave to view 
another set of drawers, and displayed to us many of Napo- 
leon's valuable papers. His treaties and letters were care- 
fully bound round by ribbons and fastened by jeweled 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 53 

clasps. Some of the papers he opened and read to us, then 
returned them to their places with a care which almost 
amounted to veneration. At length all the papers were 
returned, the robe and jewels safe in their hiding-ipl'dees, 
and the Count looked around the room as much as to say 
he had nothing further to show us at present. 

" While I was wondering how we were to make our 
exit, he approached a book-case at the end of the room, 
pressed his finger on a particular place, and the whole case 
flew back, which showed a door, which opened with a lock, 
and we entered into the Count's summer sleeping apartment. 
It consisted of a chamber, dressing and bathing-room, with 
a small studio, or rather boudoir. The curtains, canopy and 
furniture N were of light blue satin, trimmed with silver. 
Every room contained a mirror, reaching from the ceiling 
to the floor. Over the bed hung a splendid mirror, and 
also one over the table. The Avails were covered with oil 
paintings, principally of young females, with less clothing' 
about them than they or you would have found comfortable 
in our cold climate, and much less than we found agreeable 
when the Count, without ceremony, led us before them, and 
enumerated the beauties of paintings with the air of an 
accomplished amateur. In every room of the house there 
were statues of Napoleon in some different position and of 
various sizes. There were also statues of his father and 
mother and all the family. To the statue of Pauline, in 
particular, the Count called our attention, and asked us to 
admire it. He stood some time perfectly enraptured before 
it, pointing out to us what a beautiful head Pauline had, 
what hair, what eyes, nose, mouth, chin, what a throat, 
what a neck, what arms, what a magnificent bust, what a 
foot, enumerating all her charms, one after another, and 
demandi ur opinion of them. Necessity made us philoso- 
phers, and we were obliged to show as much sang-froid on 
the subject as himself, for it was impossible to get him away 
without our prudery exciting more attention than would 



54 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

have been pleasant. When the Count was satisfied with 
the eulogiums we bestowed upon his fair sister, he led us 
on, remarking, as he turned away from the statue, 'Ah, 
she was very beautiful, very beautiful was Pauline, but too 
ambitious. Nothing could satisfy her; she always felt as if 
my poor brother was robbing her of a kingdom, instead of 
bestowing one upon her; but she was so beautiful.' * * 
The Count next conducted us to his winter suite of apart- 
ments. They were decorated much in the style of his 
summer ones, excepting the furniture was of crimson and 
gold." 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 55 



CHAPTER VII. 

Description" of Some of His Paintings — Full List of — Sketch of 
Cardinal Fesch — Of Noted Artists — List of Marbles and 
Bronzes — Of Engravings — Description of Venus Victrix — Of 
His Furniture. 

1 A HE COUNT was a judicious and munificent patron of 
the arts. He owned, during his life, some of the finest 
paintings in America. Among these was Raphael Moeng's 
"Nativity of Oar Saviour" 

A note to this picture, in the catalogue,* says: 

" This magnificent Chef-d'oeuvre was executed by the 
artist for a monarch of Spain, as an Altar-piece, and cost an 
immense price. It represents the Virgin, with our Saviour, 



* CATALOGUE 

Of Valuable Paintings and Statuary, 

The collection of the late 

Joseph Bonaparte, Count De Survilliers, 

To be sold at Public Sale, 

Ox Wednesday and Thursday, September I"th and ISth, 1845, 

At the Mansion, at Bordentown, New Jersey, 

By Thomas Bibch, Jr. 

•flEg-The Paintings will be open for examination from the loth of August until the 

time of sale. 

TERMS OF SALE. 

1st. The sale will commence at eleven o'clock, on each day, and proceed in regular 
order, according to the Catalogue. 

■J.d. The purchasers to give their names and places of abode; and, (if required by 
the auctioneer,) to deposit part of the purchase-money ; in default of which, the lot so 
purchased to be immediately put up again and resold. 

3d. All bills to be settled in full within three days from the day of sale (before 
delivery of the Paintings); otherwise, they may be resold, at the expense of the 
purchaser. 

j8®^ Orders given for lots will be faithfully attended to by the auctioneer. 

On the lower margin was written: 

" Catalogues, 12% cents, to be had at Nolen's Picture store, No. 78 Chestnut street." 

On the outside of the back cover is: 

"Catalooue of Books. 

"It being deemed necessary to issue the Catalogue of Paintings immediately, as 
demands have been made for them, to forward by the steamer of the 1st August, to 
England, the original intention of issuing a general catalogue has been changed, and 
a separate catalogue of the books and other articles will be issued about the 1st 
September." 



56 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

and Shepherds in adoration — Angels descending, as Messen- 
gers from Heaven. It would be useless to attempt a descrip- 
tion of such a Painting; no pen could give an idea of its 
merits. The late owner, with a view to encourage the Fine 
Arts in this country, lent it, for some time, to the National 
Academies of New York and Philadelphia, where a great 
number of copies were made by young Artists, who profited 
by his Benevolence." 

" Canvass, length 4 feet 6 inches, height 9 feet 6 inches." 

Another, by Rubens and Sneyders, of which the catalogue 
says : 

"The centre of this Picture represents the Infant Saviour 
and St. John, and three Angels playing with a Lamb. At 
each side is a Pyramid of Fruits and Vegetables, formed 
round the trunks of two Trees. Over the group of Children 
is a largo wreath of Fruits and Flowers, with Birds on it. 
The figures, of exquisite beauty and coloring, are by 
Rubens, and the Fruits, Birds, &c., by Snyders. 

"These two famous Masters frequently worked together. 
Rubens, after having hVished the Figures, leaving the acces- 
sories to Snyders." 

Canvass. Length 8 feet 10 inches, height 5 feet 10 inches. 
Catalogue of 1845, No. 101. $2,000 were offered for the 
above Painting, but not accepted." 
By Rubens: "Two J .inns and a Fawn. Ejnsode of Paradise." 

"This Painting was the No. 14 of 1845 Sale. A well- 
known Gentleman and Amateur, Mr. F ***** * ; of New 
York, offered §2,200 for it, but the owner would not part 
with it at that price." 

Canvass. 7 ft. 8 in. L. by 4 ft. 7 H. 

By Rubens: "The Lion caught in a Net." 

Canvass. 6 ft. 3 in. L. by 4 ft. 8 H. 

By Rubens : " The Judgment of Paris." 

Copper. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. 3 H. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 57 

By Sneyders : "Hawk Among Chickens. A rare specimen 
of this Master." 

Canvass. 5 ft. 7 in. L. by 3 ft. 9 H. 

By Sneyders : "Portrait of a Hawk sitting on the branch of 
a Tree." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 5 in. L. by 2 ft. 7 H. 

By Sneyders : "Heron, Ducks and Fox." 

Canvass. 4 ft. 6 in. L. by 3 ft. 9 H. 

By Sneyders : "Peacocks, and other Birds." 

Canvass. 4 ft. 6 in. L. by 3 ft. 2 H. 

All the paintings in the "Pennsylvania Academy of the 
Fine Arts," at Philadelphia, by Joseph Yernet, formerly 
belonged to the Count. Two of them are called in the Acad- 
emy's catalogue of 1878, " Marine ;" another, " Shipwreck "— 
the latter an exceedingly fine example of Vernet's style. 
Another is, - The Cardinal* and his Friends; View of his Palace 
in the Distance." 

The Count had also by Yernet : 

1782— "A Calm, Morning Scene. Fishermen in the fore- 
ground, a Ship, with sails loose, in the centre." 

Canvass. 8 ft. 4 in. L. by 5 ft. H. 

"Storm clearing off, Ship on the Rocks, the inhabitants 
of the coast rescuing the passengers, and carrying them up 
the rocks." 

Canvass. 10 ft. L. by 5 ft. H. 

"These two pictures have been engraved, and are choice 
specimens of this Master." 

"View from Nature; Scene near Naples. Village and 
castle in the distance, figures in the foreground." 

Canvass. 10 ft. L. by 4 ft. 3 in. H. 



♦ Cardinal Fesch, maternal uncle of Joseph, and son of a Swiss captain, in the ser- 
vice of France. Possessed of great wealth, his gallery of paintings i 
stories of his princely palace. The, collection embraced fourteen hundreo p 
and was considered one of the largest and best in Rome. Besides many of the hist 
Italian masters, it was singularly rich in the works of the Flemish and Hutch schools. 
Some years before his death, he sold a large part of his paintings, and, by his will, 
divided those remaining between the Vatican and his relatives, to the latter of whom 
he left most of his property. He died at R = me, in 1839, aged seventy-seven years. 



58 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

Two — "Falls of Tivoli, different views." 

Canvass. 2 ft. 1 in. L. by 3 ft. 2 in. II. (each). 

Appleton's "American Cyclopaedia," first edition, shows 
these pictures were all painted in or before 1789, in which 
year Josepli Vernet died. He was father of the still more 
eminent Horace Vernet, who has been well patronized by 
the successors of Napoleon. A number of Josepli Vernet's 
pictures are in the Gallery of the Louvre. They are princi- 
pally sea pieces. 

The paintings by Luca Giordano were Nos. 69 and 70. 
" These Paintings in the centre and foreground have a 
large display of the Fishes and Shells of the Mediterranean, 
the colouring of which is wonderfully beautiful, fresh and 
brilliant. In the background is represented a number of 
Marine Gods, Nymphs, Cupids, &c.' 

Canvass. 10 ft. L. by 8 ft. II." 

"Hercules and Omphale." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 9 in. L. by 7 ft. 3 in. H. 

"Rape of Dejanire." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 9 in. L. by 7 ft. 3 in. H. 

"Rinaldo in the Garden of Armida, from Tasso." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 2 in. L. by 7 ft. 3 in. II. 

"Burning of Olindo and Sophronia." 

Canvass. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 7 ft. 3 in. II. 

The paintings by Simon Denys were: 

"Storm at Night, Hani on Fin . ( 'atth rushing out." 

Canvass. 7 ft. 6 in. L. by 5 ft. \ in. 11. 

"Landscape, Italian Scenery, Bay of Naples, Cattle at Foun- 
tain hi foreground; rich effect of sunset." 

Canvass. 7 ft. 8 in. L. by .1 ft. 2 in. II. 

"Rich Landscape, Mountain Scenery, with waterfall; Cattle 
and figures in the foreground." 

Canvass. 7 ft. 6 in. L. by 5 ft. 4 in. H. 

Denys (Denis) " was a native of France, settled at Naples, 
and was a very able landscape painter and executed a num- 
ber of beautiful pictures for the Count of Naples. He is 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 59 

reproached with having an extraordinary predilection for 
painting cows, for there is not one of his pictures in which 
there is not one or more of these animals. His pictures 
have a fine effect, and his accuracy was so great that a bot- 
anist could determine the character of all the plants which 
he introduced.— Pilkington." 
The paintings by David Teniers, the elder, were : 

Two "Large Landscapes, figures in foreground." 

Canvass. 8 ft. L. by 5 ft. 10 in. H. 

"Landscape, with Gipseys in foreground." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 3 in. L. by 2 ft. 5 in. H. 

"Two Peasants, and Dog." 

Canvass. 1 ft, 6 in. L. by 2 ft. 3 in. H. 
By Rembrandt : 

Two— -"Head of a Tori;, with flowing Beard. These two 
pictures are painted with great boldness and force." 

Canvass. 1 ft. 6 in L. by 1 ft. 10 in. H. 

By Bassano : 

" The Entrance into the Ark. The Animals in pairs pass- 
ing the foregrounds ; a white Horse carrying a Sack, the 
centre of the group. The style of the composition is solemn 
and grand, and the finish minute." 

Canvass. 6 ft, 9 in. L. by 3 ft, 7 in. H. 
By Bidault, a renowned French landscape painter: 

« View of the Park of Mortfontaine, in France. Mortfon- 
taine was' the favorite residence of the ex-King, and is 
known to many Americans as the place where the Treaty 
with the United States was signed. Also, three other 
match-pictures by the same artist." 

Two other Views of the Park of Mortfontaine. 

"Napoleon in his Cabinet. Repetition of the Painting by 
Rob't Lefevre." 
By Antonio Tempesta: 

"Battle Pieces." 

Canvass. 4 ft. 10 in. L. by 4 ft. H. 



60 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

By Boguet : 

"Passage of the Po near Plaisance by the French Army under 
the command of General Ponaparte. 

The groups of Horses and Soldiers are admirable for the 
Details and Execution." 

Canvass. 8 ft. 4 in L. by 5 ft. 4 in. H. 
By Swebach : 

"French Hussar mi White Horse, with Dog."" 

Canvass. 1 ft. 9 in. L. by 1 ft. 5 in II. 

"Turk on Horseback." 

Canvass. 1 ft. 1 in. L. by 1 ft. 4 in. II. 
By Gaspar Van Eyck: 

"Coast Scene, Castle on a Hill, Boats and figures in the 
foreground." 

Canvass. 3 ft, 8 in. L. by 2 ft. 4 in. II. 

"Naval Engagement between Spaniards and Turks: numer- 
ous figures, painted with uncommon spirit, and well 
drawn." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. 9 in. H. 
By Gio Botta Colomba : 

"Palace Garden; a Party taking Refreshments." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 2 in. L. by 4 ft. 4 in. H. 

"Landscape, \ r e/»us and Adonis; match picture to the 
above." 

"Scene in Woods; Woodcutters taking their meals." 

Canvass. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 4 ft. H. 

"Scene in Woods; a Gipsey Party. Match to the above." 

"Moonlight Wood Scene, with group of Gipseys round a 
fire." 

Canvass. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 3 ft.' 10 in. H. 

"Landscape Mountain Scenery, Cascade and Bridge, numer- 
ous figures in foreground." 

Canvass. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 4 ft. H. 
By Jacques Savery : 

"Royal Stag Hunt. This picture is quite a curiosity, from 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 61 

the large number of Figures and Animals contained in it, 
and the remarkable labour and care bestowed on the finish 
of each." 

Canvass. 5 ft. 8 in. L. by 3 ft, 9 in. H. 

By Gherardo Delle Notti : 

"Christ breaking Bread with his two Disciples at Mnaeus." 

By A. Carracchi : 

"Christ and his Disciples at Sea in a Storm, Christ sleeping." 
Canvass. 5 ft. L. by 2 ft, 3 in. H. 

By Laurent De La Hyre : 

"St Sebastian pierced by an Arrow." 

Canvass. 3 ft. L. by 4 ft, H. 

"Palemon in the guise of a Triton expressing his love for a 
Nymph seated on a rock above." 

Canvass. 4 ft. 2 in. L. by 4 ft. 10 in. H. 

By Gerard Terburgh : 

"Departure of the Prodigal Son." 
Canvass. 1 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. 8 in. H. 

By Guercino : 

" Group of ten figures ; the centre figure is Herodias receiving 
the Head of John the Baptist on a charger." 

Canvass. 5 ft. L. by 4 ft. 4 in. II. 

By Abraham Bloemaert : 

"Small Landscape, with numerous figures." 
Wood. 1 ft. 5 in. L. by 1 ft. II. 
"Small Landscape, companion to the above." 
Wood. Same size. 

By Cornelius de Heem : 
"F)~uit and Flowers." 
Canvass. 1 ft. 9 in. L. by 2 ft. 1 in. H. 

By Benito Espinos (Spanish) : 
"Flowers ; beautifully painted." 
Wood. 2 ft. L. by 1 ft. 5 in. H. 



62 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

By De Marne : 

"French Landscape. Arrival of the Diligence at the Gates 
of a City." Cattle, figures. 

Canvass. 2 ft. L. by 1 ft. 8 in. H. 
By Vanderlinck : 

"Italian Landscape, with Ancient Monument." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 9 in. L. by 2 ft. 8 in. H. 

"Landscape, with Cascadi ." 

Canvass. 5 ft. 4 in. L. by 3 ft. 9 in. H. 
By Xatoire : 
'-Toilet of Venus." 

Canvass. 5 ft. 6 in. L. by 6 ft. 5 in. H. 
By Van Oss : 

"Flowers." 

Copper. 10 in. L. by 13 in. II. 
By Canaletti : 

" View of London Bridge." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 8 in. L. by 1 ft. 9 in. H. 
By Gerard Lairesse : 

" Y'< mptation of St. Anthony." 

I ft. 4 in. L. by 1 ft. 8 in. II. 
By Caspar Poussin : 

"Rich Landscape." 

Canvass. 2 ft. 8 in. L. by 2 ft. 1 in. H. 

II Roman Architectan ." 
Canvass. 6 ft. L. by 4 ft. II. 

By Francis Franck, called the young : 

"A Dutch Fair. Historical Painting." 

" The Names of the principal Personages represented in 
it, might be ascertained from the Banner and Coat of Arms 
of the reigning Duke or Prince, which are very distinct; 
numerous figures highly finished." 

Canvass. ^5 ft. 9 in. L. by 4 ft. H. 

"Landscape." 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 63 

By Alexander Adriansen : 

" Fish and Dead Game." 

Wood. 3 ft. L. by 2 ft. 3 in. II. 

"Still Life. Chaffing Dish, with fowl on it, Flagons, Gob- 
lets, Lemons, &c." 

Wood. 3 ft. L. by 1 ft. 10 in. H. 
By Ruysdael : 

"Rich Wooded Landscape.." 

Wood. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. II. 
By M. A. Campidoglio : 

" Rich display of Fruit and Vegetables." 

Canvass. 5 ft. L. by 2 ft. 8 in. H. 

"A companion to the above." 
By Paret, 1786. 

"Landscape; walled City in the distance, Figures, Sheep, 
&c. in the foreground ; a charming picture." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. 5 in. II. 
By Bercheni : 

"Landscape, Cattle and figures by fountain." 

Canvass. 4 ft. 4 in. L. by 3 ft. 2 in. II. 
By Peternerfs : 

"Delivery of St. Peter from Prison." 

Canvass. 2 ft. 6 in. L. by 1 ft. 8 in. II. 
By Sebastian Del Piombo: 

" Visitation of St. Anm/." 

Canvass. 3 ft, 10 in. L. by 5 ft. II. 
By Philip De Champagne : 

"Massanissa and Sophonisba." 

Canvass. 5 ft. 2 in L. by 6 ft. 2 in. H. 
By < Jharles Lebrun : 

"Daniel defending Susannah. A beautiful composition." 

Canvass. ' 3 ft. L. by 4 ft. II. 
By Filippo Hackerto, 1802. 

"Portrait of Pedro th favorite Dog of Charles the Fourth — 
King of Spain. 



64 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

The Dog is represented pointing at a large Hare, it is full 
of life and the foliage is beautifully finished.''' 
By Lawrence : 

" View of thr old Mansion, the Park, and the Delaware River, 
beautifully painted for the late Prince." 

School of Carracchi : 
"Man carrying Sheep, Old Woman, and other figures" 
Canvass. 3 ft. 3 in. L. by 2 ft. 9 in. H. 

School of Guido. 

" Magdalen and two Cupids." 

Canvass. 4 ft. 4 in. L. by 5 ft. 3 in. II. 
Copy from Titian. 

"Sleeping Venus." 

Canvass. 5 ft. 4 in. L. by 3 ft. 5 in. H. 
Copy. 

"St. Jerome, and Virgin and Child." 

Canvass. 4 ft. 6 in. L. by 6 ft. 5 in. H. 
Copy. 

il Virgin and Child, with the palm" 

Canvass. 4 ft. 6 in. L. by 6 ft. 8 in. H. 

Italian School : 

"Hob/ Family, with Landscape background." 

Canvass. 1 ft, 7 in. L. by 2 ft. II. 

"Moonlight Landscape, figures in foreground, with torch- 
light." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. 8 in. H. 

"Sleeping Female." 

Canvass. 3 ft. L. by 2 ft, 2 in. II. 

"Landscape, Castle on the Hill." 

Wood. 1 ft. 5 in. L. by 1 ft. 9 in. H. 

"Christ Bound." 

Canvass. 10 in. L. by 1 ft. 3 in. II. 

"Portrait of a Boy laughing." 

Canvass. 1 ft. 7 in. L. by 2 ft, IT. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 65 

"Architecture, Collonade near the Sea." 
Canvass. 5 ft. 1 in. L. by 2 ft. 9 in. H. 
"Martyrdom of St. Cecelia." 
Canvass. 4 ft. L. by 3 ft. High. 
"Bains of the Temple of Vesta, at Tivoli." 
Canvass. 1 ft. 6 in. L. by 1 ft, 9 in. H. 
"Entrance of the Queen of Austria into Mantua. Triumphal 
procession, numerous figures very carefully painted." 
Canvass. 5 ft. C in. L. by 3 ft. 9 in. H. 
"Landscape." 

Canvass. 3 ft. •") in L. by 4 ft, H. 
"Cupid and Fruit" 
Canvass. 5 ft. 6 in. L. by 4 ft. II. 
"Virgin ami Child, with Fish;" copy. (Modern.) 
Canvass. 5 ft. L. by G ft. 8 in. H. 

I Mitch School. 
il View of a Country Pal/ice" 
Wood. ' 1 ft. 2 in. L. by 1 It. II. 
"Small Marine View, Calm." 
Wood. 1 ft. 2 in. L. by 10 in. H. 

Flemish. 

"Landscape, Horseman and Dog." 

Wood. 1 ft. L. by 1 ft. 4 in. H. 

"Old Bridge and Fisherman." 

Wood. 1 ft. 1 in. L. by 1 ft. Gin. H. 

Barn Yard ( 'hickens <j>c." 

Canvass. 5 ft. L. by 4 ft. II. 

"A very curious old Painting, representing a Triumphal 
Entry of an Eastern Emperor." 

Canvass. 5 ft. 6 in. L. by 3 ft. 9 in. H. 
French School. (Modern.) 

"Landscape, Sportsmen with Horsemen and Dogs." 

Canvass. 3 ft. 7 in. L. by 1 ft. 7 in. H. 

Besides the splendid collection of paintings, the Count 
5 



66 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

also had a fine collection of marbles and bronzes. Among 
these were : 

" A splendid Medicii Vase of Porphyre, 3 feet 1 inch 
high." 

"A splendid Medicii Vase, of Porphyre, 3 feet 1 inch 
high (damaged). 

Presented to the late owner by the King of Sweden." 

"Antique Bronze Casting; Stork and Frog, from Pom- 
peii." 

"Antique Bronze Casting; Hawk and Animal, from 
Pompeii." 

"Young Diana and Hound; a splendid piece of Sculpture, 
by Bartolini; 3 feet 6 inches high." 

"Female Figure, Roman Dress, 3 feet 4 inches high, by 
Bosio." 

" Ceres, to match the above, 3 feet 4 inches high, by 
Bosio." 

"Marble Bust, Charles Bonaparte, father of Napoleon, 
by Bartolini." 

"Marble Bust, Jerome Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, 
by Bartolini." 

" Marble Bust, Louis Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, by 
Bartolini." 

".Marble Bust, Pauline, sister of Napoleon, by Canova." 

"Marble bust, Eliza, sister of Napoleon, by Canova." 

"Marble Bust of the Empress Marie Louise, wife of 
Napoleon, by Bozio." 

"Marble Bust of Catherine, Princess of Wirtemberg, 
wife of Jerome Bonaparte, by Bozio." 

"Marble Bust of Prince Borghese, husband of Princess 
Pauline, sister to Napoleon, by Bartolini." 

"Marble Bust of Prince Baeeioehi, husband of Princess 
Eliza, sister to Napoleon, by Bartolini." 

"Marble Bust (small) of the young Princess Camerata, 
daughter of Eliza, by Canova." 

" Marble Bust, Bacchus ; by Bosio." 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 67 

" Marble Bust, Ariadne; by Bosio." 

"A large Statue of Apollo. Italian marble, beautifully 
executed, by Bartolini." 

Of Canova — he was called from Italy by the Emperor 
Napoleon, and gave France some of her choicest sculptures, 
lie made at least four busts of the Emperor. One of these, 
in white marble, standing at least two feet in height, the 
Count presented to M. F. La Coste, a member of his house- 
hold, and afterwards the Consul-General of France at New 
York. This bust is now the property of Theodore H. 
Colliding, of that city. A duplicate of this was in the pos- 
session of the Duke of Wellington. A replica in eolossal 
size is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and 
another is in the possession of "The Penns}dvania Aead- 
emy of the Fine Arts," at Philadelphia. 

It is generally believed, but we have some doubts, that 
Canova's copy of the statue of the Princess Pauline was 
among the Count's Park collection. Of the original, Wil- 
liam John Potts, Esq., of Camden, New Jersey, in a recent 
letter to the author, writes: "It was one of the most 
exquisite works 1 saw at the Villa Borghese, near Rome, 
about ten years ago. It was in the palace, with many other 
works of art, and belonged to the family of the Prince Bor- 
ghese. It is that known as Venus Vietrix, a full length 
figure, life size, upon a couch. A fine photograph in my pos- 
session brings it very vividly before me. The face and the 
outlines of the figure are exceedingly graceful and elegant, 
and the features those of a woman of exquisite beauty and 
refinement, and the whole tone in an eminent degree marks 
the characteristics of Canova's style; but when you have 
said that, you have said everything, for the expression is 
that of a frivolous and shallow person, and lacks dignity 
and expression. The beholder is led to believe that this is 
not the fault of the sculptor, for any one familiar with Can- 
ova's works is aware that their merits have not been in the 
least exaggerated." 



68 BONAPARTE'S PABK. 

Among the engravings were : 

" The Crowning of Napoleon." 

"Napoleon in Imperial Robes." 

"Joseph, King of Spain." 

" Lucien as Senator." 

" Serment du Jeu de Paume." 

"The Sepulchre, after Poussin." 

"Flight into Egypt, after Claude." 

" Acis and Galatea, after Claude." 

"Temple of Venus, after Claude." 

" Tempest, after Poussin." 

" Landscape, after Poussin." 

" Cascade of Tivoli " — two. 

Among the other articles offered for sale were two mag- 
nificent candelabras, of live lights each, with bronze figures, 
"Bacconalian" nymphs, on solid stands of porphyry, with 
embossed gilt ornaments — very rich and expensive works 
of art, from the palace of Luxembourg. 

A magnificent bronze Urania (the muse of astronomy), 
with sphere and time-piece, stand of two kinds of porphyry, 
the red and gray — very costly, from the same palace. 

A royal gobelin medallion-figured carpet, in one piece, 
twenty-two feet six inches, by twenty-nine feet four inches, 
from the same palace. 

A very handsome mahogany side-table, with gray marble 
top and gilt ornaments, from the palace of the ex-King in 
France. 

A mahogany, French bedstead, with gilt ornaments and 
canopy top, blue worsted damask curtains, fringe and 
drapery. 

This latter was the Count's bedstead, and is now the 
property of Miss Maria H. ISTutt. Some few of the paint- 
ings and engravings, and the smaller works of art, with 
some of the furniture, are now owned in Bordentown. 

The sale of this magnificent collection of pictures and 
other rare works of art, together with the furniture, 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 69 

attracted great attention, and connoisseurs and curiosity- 
seekers came daily by scores to examine, admire and criti- 
cise the superb collection. A throng; attended on the day 
of sale, the pictures brought their full value, and were 
distributed all over the country, some of them going back 
again to European galleries. The furniture brought fabu- 
lous prices, the strife among bidders being the desire to 
obtain some article that belonged to Joseph Bonaparte, to be 
cherished as an invaluable relic. 



70 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The Count and the Citizens — Reminiscences of Bellemere, Carman, 
Thorn and Wood — His Household — Judge Elmer's Interesting 
Account — General Bernard — Dr. Sprague — The State Survey — 
Charlotte and Captain Mickle. 

THE COUNT was a great benefit to Bordentown, and 
gave the first great impulse to the place. Besides liber- 
ally patronizing the shops, he gave employment to all who 
asked for it. Each one was required to furnish his own 
tools. The road along the park was graded and kept in a 
perfect state of repair. The grounds were leveled or raised, 
bushes or stumps grubbed out, trees planted by the hun- 
dreds, roads and paths built and the ground thoroughly 
underdrained, and, with his constant and various improve- 
ments, he found work for all. Very much of the work he 
superintended in person. If he designated any particular 
job for a man to do, even if it occupied but one hour, he 
expected him to remain at the spot until meal-time, if not 
directed to report at some other point. While he was not 
exacting of the men, nothing did he dislike more than a 
lazy or slow man, he wishing all to be sprightly, ready and 
willing, lie always paid most liberal wages; cash each 
day, and in hard money. Upon Christmas he presented 
each employe with a sum of money varying from a quarter 
eagle to an eagle. He was always most charitable to the 
poor. He often said he never had an American to ask him 
for money; it was always work. The Count was very good 
to the citizens of the town, and allowed them all the privi- 
leges of his park, and, in winter, of the lake. When the 
skating was fine, he and his household would come down to 
the shore to see the sport, and it was one of his greatest 
pleasures to roll apples and oranges over the ice to see the 
skaters scamper after them. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 7 J 

Philip Bellemere, who now resides in Bordentowr , came 
over to Philadelphia in 1816, when he was ten years old, 
and, in 1827, was taken into the Count's household as bar- 
ber, and remained with him until a short time before he 
returned to Europe. He shaved and dressed the hair of 
the Count, his immediate family and guests, and probably 
attended on more distinguished foreigners than any one in 
the country. In a conversation with him he stated : " The 
Count was a splendid man, and looked like his brother, 
the grand Napoleon, only he was taller and stouter during 
the last years of his life. He wore his face smooth shaven 
and his hair cut close and brushed down over his forehead, 
like the Emperor. He was rather reserved, always kind to 
his servants, but never familiar. He entertained hand- 
somely, and all the distinguished Frenchmen who came to 
this country were his guests. La Fayette, Moreau and 
many of the foreign ministers were there. He drew around 
him many of the exiles from France, who, having followed 
the fortunes of the great Emperor, came to seek a refuge in 
America. Clauzel, Lallemand, Desmonettes and other dis- 
tinguished Frenchmen received constant proofs of the good- 
ness of his heart. All the great men of this country were 
there also. Among these were Clay, Webster, Adams, 
General Scott, Commodores Stewart and Stockton. Henry 
Clay, who spent several days with the Count, left his cane 
there. It is now in the possession of Mr. Thorn. 

" The Count never alluded to himself or his past history, 
but sometimes spoke of his great brother, the Emperor, 
and always with feeling. He maintained the same domestic 
habits as in former years. Like all the Bonapartes, he rose 
early, and did his work in the morning. In winter he arose 
between seven and eight o'clock, when coffee and toast 
were brought to his room. He remained in his library, 
engaged in reading and writing, until eleven, when he met 
bis friends at breakfast, which usually occupied half an 
hour. He then generally went over his grounds. He 



72 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

lunched at two, dined at seven or eight, and supped at ten. 
Dinner was the principal meal of the day, and his table was 
almost sure to be surrounded by distinguished guests. 
Prince Charles and Zenaide always dined with him. His 
manners were full of grace, elegance and blandness; his 
heart was full of human feelings; his mind was well bal- 
anced, and all bis views of life were moderate and cheerful. 
Wherever be was known, be was respected; and those who 
loved him once, loved him always." 

Mr. Bellcmere is a pleasant old Frenchman of about sev- 
enty-three years of age. He keeps a toy store in Borden- 
town, in which can be found almost everything in that line. 
He is a great favorite of the juveniles, and is noted for his 
fair and frank dealings. 

The Count was a great favorite with the people. A great 
many persons now living knew him by sight, and have 
spoken with him. Alexander D. Carman, when a boy of 
twelve years old, was employed by him as a messenger, and 
continued in his service for some years. In the fall the 
Count used to go out every morning before breakfast to 
hunt for rabbit-traps that town-boys set in the Park. Upon 
such occasions Carman went along to crawl under bushes 
and through the shrubbery, where the Count could not go. 
The traps, when brought to the Count, he broke to pieces 
with a hatchet. This he always carried in his hand in his 
rambles through the park, and used to lop off branches 
from the trees. Frequently he was accompanied by work- 
men, who carried a pole of a fixed length, and trimmed all 
the trees up to its height. 

The late Anthony Thorn, who rented one of the Count's 
farms, was made by him game-keeper. One day he ordered 
off one of the Count's employes, but he refused to go, 
stating he had permission from the Count to gun. Directly 
afterwards the Count came along, and hearing the report 
of a gun, chided Anthony for permitting trespassing. 
" But," said Anthony, " he is one of your folks, and says he 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 73 

has your permission." "I have no folks," said the Count, 
" I am everybody, and in the future allow no one to gun on 
these premises but Mr. Mailliarcl." A few days afterward 
Prince Murat and two or three companions were hunting, 
and Anthony warned them off. The Prince claimed the 
right to gun on his uncle's lands, but Anthony was firm, 
repeating the Count's orders in regard to Mr. Mailliarcl. 
The Prince complained to his uncle, who upheld Mr. 
Thorn, but gave the Prince permission to gun on him in 
the future. Each Christmas the Count sent Mr. Thorn a 
gold eagle as a present. 

The late John Wood, Sr., born on the bluffs bordering 
the Park, who, for over forty years, was in the employment 
of the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company, stationed at 
the shops below Bordentown, honest, poor, respected and 
trusted by the citizens, to whom he was well known, stated 
to the author, that he remembered well the Count's first 
visit to the Park. It was in the year 1816, when he came 
to view his contemplated purchase. After going over the 
ground and examining the roads of the neighborhood, he 
engaged John, then a lad of fifteen, and his brother 
Thomas, to row him and Louis Mailliard up the Crosswicks 
creek, to view the water-front, with which he seemed much 
pleased. Upon another occasion, when rowing Joseph 
upon the creek, they met two sloops, laden with wood, 
bound to Philadelphia. He inquired of the masters if they 
would sell their loads, and, receiving an affirmative answer, 
he directed them to unload near his house. Coal was not 
then used, and he purchased all his fuel, as he would not 
allow any trees to be cut on his property. Soon after this, 
John came along one day to where Joseph was building a 
bulkhead along the creek. He asked him if he wanted 
work, and upon John's telling him he did, the Count set 
him to raking leaves, at which he continued until winter 
set in. During the winter John was employed in sorting 
chestnuts, nuts, apples, etc. All were placed on shelves so 



74 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

as not to touch one another. The cellars were nicely 
finished, and heated with stoves. 

The Count's family consisted of M. Louis Mailliard his 
confidential friend, and Adolph Mailliard his son ; M. 
France La Coste, who was subsequently appointed Consul- 
General of France, and who died in New York, November 
14th, 1853;* his wife, Mme. La Coste, who was a great 
beauty, and their little boy, Leo; William Thibaud, after- 
wards manager of the Fesch Gallery, in Rome, and his 
daughter, a most fascinating young lady, now married to 
M. Hughes, of Paris. f 

In "Beecher's Magazine"' lor January, 187:2, Judge 
Lucius Q. C. Elmer published an article entitled, "General 
Bernard and Joseph Bonaparte." In December, 1823, an 
act was passed, by the legislature of New Jersey, appoint- 
ing Lucius Q. C. Elmer, Peter Kean and George Holcombe, 
"Commissioners for the purpose of ascertaining the practi- 
cability and expediency of a canal to unite the tide-waters 
of the Delaware and Raritan rivers." There was, at that 
time, a board of engineers, organized by virtue of a special 
act of Congress, as a Board of [nternal Improvements. 
This board came into New Jersey, and, in conjunction with 
the state board, made a hasty examination of the route 
previously surveyed, in 1816, by a state commission, under 
John Ran del, Jr. The final result of this examination was, 
that the plan of making the canal a state or national work 
was abandoned, and, in 1830, the Delaware and Raritan 
Canal Company was incorporated, who, mainly through the 
energy of Commodore Stockton, constructed the existing 
work. 

The board of United States Engineers consisted of Gen- 
eral Simon Bernard, specially appointed as its head, with 
the rank and pay of a Brigadier-General, Lieutenant-Col- 



* Theodore H. Conklin, N« 
t A. Mailliard, California. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 75 

onel Joseph G. Totten, of the Engineer Corps, and John L. 
Sullivan, of Boston, a civil engineer, 

"General Barnard, "says Judge Elmer, "was a distin- 
guished military engineer in the army of Napoleon, having 
the brevet rank of Lieutenaut-General, as one of his aids, 
in which capacity he acted at the battle of Waterloo. Upon 
the downfall of Napoleon, he came over to the United States, 
about the year 1816, and about the same time that Joseph 
Bonaparte came. Napoleon, it will be remembered, also 
attempted to escape to this country, but was prevented and 
obliged to go on board the ' Bellerophon,' a British ship-of- 
the-line, on which" (the Northumberland) "he was carried 
to the island of St. Helena, where he died. Bernard came 
with the highest testimonials of merit, and, it was stated, 
had declined flattering overtures from some of the Euro- 
pean sovereigns. He was the first, and, until the late war, 
was the only foreign officer admitted to the military service 
of the United States after the Revolutionary war, although 
a Col. Foncine, an officer of engineers, who was among 
the emigrants from France, in 1793, was employed for a 
short time in the construction of one of the forts in the 
harbor of Boston. * * * * 

"During the twelve or fifteen years that the General 
remained as the head of our corps of engineers, the board 
surveyed and made a report of a military road from Wash- 
ington to New Orleans, and planned a system of fortifica- 
tions lor the general defence of the country. 

" Soon after Louis Phillippe became King, Bernard 
returned to France, and was soon taken into the military 
family of the King as one of the aids. In 1836 he was 
placed in the cabinet as secretary of war. 

" The Rev. Dr. Sprague, who visited Paris in 1836, 
remarks in his work entitled 'Visits to European Celebri- 
ties': 'I spent an hour with General Bernard. He had been 
so long in this country that he seemed to have somewhat of 
the American feeling — at least he made intelligent inquiries 



76 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

on various subjects concerning the United States, on all of 
which he seemed at home. A friend, who was on intimate 
terms with him, called with me, and he received us in his 
study, sans ceremonie, and apparently with much cordiality. 
As we rose to come away, after sitting with him a consider- 
able length of time, lie said that I must not go until I had 
seen his family, and immediately took me into the parlor 
and presented me to his wife and daughters, whom I found 
exceedingly agreeable ladies, and all speaking English as 
readily as I could speak it myself. They had quite the 
appearance of an American family, and were glad of an 
opportunity to inquire for their friends in this country, 
many of whom were personally known to me. General 
Bernard was a line specimen of a French gentleman, and 
everything about his family bespoke the highest degree of 
refinement.' 

"lie died in 1839, while still secretary of war. When 
the news of his death was received in this country, it was 
by a general order of the war department announced to 
the army and people, in terms of high commendation and 
respect." 

Among the attaches to the board was a Captain Poussin, 
also from France, then holding the rank of Captain in the 
United States Corps of Topographical Engineers. Poussin 
returned to France with General Bernard after Louis 
Phillippe became King, and upon his overthrow in 1848 
was sent by the Provisional Government as minister to the 
United States. AVhile holding this appointment he had 
the misfortune to displease Mr. Clayton, our secretary of 
state, by some incautious language, and was dismissed or 
withdrawn. 

Judge Elmer being the head of the state commission, it 
fell to his lot to be specially associated with General Bernard, 
and they were together four or five days at Trenton and its 
vicinity, in the month of October, 1824, exploring the 
country on horseback. Speaking of their movements, 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 77 

Judge Elmer says : " Having explored the feeder, we rode 
down to Bordentown. Upon our route to that place, as we 
approached the residence of Joseph Bonaparte, who then 
occupied the houses on the road (originally designed for 
stables) his mansion on the point having been accidentally 
burned, I remarked to him that I supposed he would take 
the opportunity to have an interview with the Count (as 
Joseph was then spoken of, he having assumed the title of 
Count de Survilliers, from the name of a place he owned in 
France). He replied that his engagements would prevent 
his having that pleasure. But as we came in front of the 
house it happened that a carriage was drawn up in the yard, 
and the Count was in the act of entering it. Seeing this 
the General excused himself, left his horse, and we went on 
to the town, where the other gentlemen were awaiting us. 
After the delay of an hour or more, the General joined us, 
and brought with him an invitation to the whole corps to 
dine with the Count at five o'clock. About half of us, 
including, of course, the General, accepted the invitation, 
and after dining were kept all night, retiring to their 
apartments, as I understood, as early as nine o'clock, and 
were served in the morning with coffee, &c, in their rooms. 
I had been riding in the dust two or three days, without 
any chance of changing my dress, and although about in 
the same plight as the others, declined to present myself, 
as did Colonel Totten. 

"I regretted this the less because, during the previous 
year, I had, in company with another gentleman, paid my 
respects to the Count by calling on him, as I understood 
was agreeable to him. He received us in such a manner as 
showed that our visit was not displeasing to him. The 
reception-room into which we were ushered was orna- 
mented with many elegant paintings, comprising some 
of the master-pieces of old Spanish painters, and two full- 
length portraits of himself and his wife in their robes as 
King and Queen of Naples. The Queen never came to 



78 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

America, but both of his daughters were with him, at dif- 
ferent times, several years. He took us into several apart- 
ments, showed us many busts and other mementoes of 
Napoleon, and introduced us to his youngest daughter, 
Charlotte, who had recently come over in a ship com- 
manded by the late Captain Mickle, of Camden. He 
showed us a book containing several of her drawings, made 
on the passage, with pencil or crayon. Among them was a 
representation of the 'ship's cabin,' and a half-length of a 
gentleman sitting with a book in his hand, which he 
appeared to be reading. At the bottom was written, ' Capt. 
Mickle, reading Hervey's Meditations.' The Count spoke 
imperfect English, and was, like most of his family, a very 
handsome man. He left the country some thirty or more 
years ago, and died in Italy. The young lady we saw, 
married her cousin, a son of Louis and brother of Louis 
Napoleon III, but he died in 1831. His other daughter, 
whose name was Zenaide, a very handsome lady, married 
her cousin, Charles Bonaparte, son of Lucien. I saw her 
more than once, with her children, when she rode up to 
Trenton with her father. 

" Captain Mickle, when young, it will be remembered by 
those who knew him, was a fine specimen of an American 
gentleman, who never married. The young lady, it used 
to be said, was quite captivated by his good looks. Upon 
leaving the ship, she presented him with a handsome 
diamond breast-pin, besides leaving him all the unused fine 
wines that had been laid in araons; her stores." 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 79 



CHAPTER IX. 

The Two Visits of Lafayette — The Crown of Mexico Offered to 
Joseph — Visit of Louis Napoleon — Of a Family — Their Opin- 
ion of Pauline — Sketch of Pauline. 

IK 1824, when Lafayette was the nation's guest, he vis- 
ited the Count at the Park. This visit seems some- 
what remarkable, when we remember the Emperor Napo- 
leon spoke thus of the Marquis, in his will written at 
St. Helena: "6. The two unfortunate results of the inva- 
sions of France, when she had still so many resources, are 
to be attributed to the treason of Marmont, Angereau, 
Talleyrand and La Fayette." The treason, it must be 
remembered, was to the Emperor, not France. 

Joseph left the Park in a very large and handsome 
sixteen-oar barge presented to him by Stephen Girard. 
Proceeding down the Delaware, accompanied by some 
distinguished guests, "they met the Marquis just above 
Philadelphia, on his way up on a steamboat. The Count 
and his friends boarded the steamer to welcome Lafayette, 
and the barge was taken in tow. Arriving opposite Bor- 
dentown, they all entered the barge and proceeded up the 
Crosswicks to the Park landing. Speaking of this visit, 
"The Berkeley Men," in "The Napoleon Dynasty," page 
391, say : " On that occasion (Joseph says) Lafayette ex- 
pressed to him his regret at the part he had taken in 1815, 
in effecting the restoration of the Bourbons, and observed, 
'The Bourbon dynasty cannot last! It too openly wounds 
the national feeling. In France we are all persuaded that 
the son of the Emperor alone can represent all the interests 
of the Revolution. Place two million at the disposal of 
our committee (in Paris), and I promise you that, with this 
sum, in two years, Napoleon II will be on the throne of 
France.' Joseph thought the means inadequate to the 



80 BONAPARTE'S PA UK. 

object to be attained, and did not accept the proposition of 
Lafayette." 

Lafayette before returning to France made a second 
visit to the Park. He had been staying with General 
Moreau at Trenton, and came down with his suite, by the 
White Horse bridge. He rode in an open barouche, with 
his son, the Governor of Pennsylvania, and another gentle- 
man. It was drawn by four cream-colored horses. Mr. 
Andrew Quintin, of Trenton, states he was a little boy at 
the time, but well remembered being brought out to look 
at the grand cavalcade, as his father, Major Quintin, was 
one of the military escorts of the Bucks County Light 
Horse, who accompanied the party down the Pennsylvania 
side. The volunteers were set down to a handsome dinner. 
The Marquis and Count rode around the town together in 
a barouche drawn by four horses, followed by a crowd of 
citizens, who cheered them. Lafayette spent one night at 
the Park. M. Sarrans, in his "History of the Revolution 
of 1830," published an interesting and very honorable 
correspondence between Joseph and Lafayette. 

It was at the Park that the Count received a proposition, 
which surprised as much as it must have affected him. A 
deputation from Mexico came to offer him the crown of that 
nation. They had landed in New York, and came in stage- 
coaches to Bordentown. Says "The Napoleon Dynasty," 
page 300: "He replied to the deputation: 'I have worn 
two crowns; I would not take a step to wear a third. Noth- 
ing can gratify me more than to see men who would not 
recognize my authority when I was at Madrid, now come to 
seek me in exile; but I do not think that the throne you 
wish to raise again can make you happy. Every day 1 pass 
in this hospitable land proves more clearly to me the excel- 
lence of republican institutions for America. Keep them 
a*, a precious gift from heaven; settle your internal commo- 
tions ; follow the example of the United States ; and seek 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 81 

among jour fellow-citizens a man more capable than I am 
of acting the great part of Washington.' " 

A grand ball was given to the delegation before their 
departure. 

Prince Louis Napoleon, afterwards Napoleon III, brother- 
in-law of Joseph's daughter Charlotte, spent several months 
in America, in the spring of 1837. This was after the 
"insurrection" at Strausbourgh, where the Prince was 
arrested and sent into exile, a French frigate conveying him 
to Rio Janeiro, and thence to New York. It was expected 
that the Prince would have remained in this country for 
several years, and he was about starting on an extended 
tour of the continent, when he received a letter from his 
mother, Hortense, ex-Queen of Holland, announcing she 
was about to undergo a dangerous operation, which caused 
him at once to return to Europe, and hasten to the bedside 
of his dying mother. During his exile, as is generally 
believed, he lived in pecuniary embarrassment. This was 
occasioned, however, not so much from his want of means, 
as from the fact that he was a Prince, with princely ideas. 
With all his poverty, he managed to dress elegantly, enjoy 
his champagne and Havana, and keep a servant. He could 
not branch out into the magnificent as in Europe, as one 
dollar there went as far as three here. 

The Prince spent a short time with his uncle at the Park, 
and his visit is well remembered by several of the citizens 
of Bordentown. He was at that time, by the will of his 
uncle, the great Napoleon, the heir apparent to the French 
throne, the Duke de Eeichstadt, Napoleon's only son, and 
Napoleon Louis, Grand Duke of Cleves and Berg, Louis 
Napoleon's eldest brother, and son-in-law of Joseph, having 
died. Joseph, who had disapproved of his propensity 
to hasty action in trying to accelerate events, had become 
satisfied as to his views of the future, and the Prince was 
fully restored to his confidence and affection. It is said 



82 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

that Joseph presented him with $20,000 while he was in 
this country. 

Napoleon, while in captivity at St. Helena, made an 
appeal to his family, that each member should contribute 
towards his required wants, and Joseph unhesitatingly 
offered him his whole fortune. 

Joseph participated in the deep grief felt by all the mem- 
bers of the family when the intelligence of the death of 
Napoleon was received. The son of the deceased Emperor, 
the Duke dc Reichstadt, was still in captivity, and Joseph 
asked permission of the Court of Austria to visit him, but 
Metternich refused the request. 

The grounds of the Park were open to visitors at all 
times, and any proper person, no matter how humble, that 
called at the mansion, was kindly shown through it by a 
servant, and allowed to inspect the many works of art and 
interest it contained. Besides the numerous distinguished 
guests, the Count entertained a number of the citizens <>t' 
Bordentown, and of the country, who, with less pretensions 
to elegance of dress, were received with a kind hospitality. 
The author in his boyhood often heard his mother relate a 
visit she made with his grandfather's family to the Park. 
It had been intimated to them that a visit would be agree- 
able to the Count. It was winter, and the sleigh drove up 
to the door. Servants soon appeared with a roll of carpet 
to protect their feet from the snow. Entering the massive 
doorway, they found a number of servants on either side of 
the hall. These being dressed in black broadcloth, with 
white gloves, vests and neck-ties, of a finer material than 
worn by themselves, and being adorned with mustaches and 
long beards, then worn only by foreigners, they in their 
rustic simplicity at first supposed they were French Counts, 
but the respectful bows soon dissipated this impression. 
Being shown into a dressing-room, a number of servants 
assisted in removing their great-coats, &c, and soon it was 
announced that the Count awaited them in the drawing- 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 83 

room. Upon entering he advanced and received them with 
great cordiality and pleasure, and soon, much to the sur- 
prise and satisfaction of the younger members of the party, 
they felt perfectly at ease. After a pleasant conversation, 
he invited them to accompany him over his house. The 
magnificent furniture, laces and tapestry, and rare works of 
art, appeared to their unaccustomed eye in great splendor. 
Among the wonderful things they saw were those rare gems 
of art, the full-length portrait of Pauline, Joseph's sister, 
a statue of the ''Infant Napoleon sleeping," and several 
others of a similar style. Upon the points and beauties of 
these the Count dilated with great enthusiasm. It could 
hardly be supposed in those primitive days that rustics 
would be educated up to that tine point of admiring art 
solely for art's sake, and although they appreciated the 
motto, "Evil to him who evil thinks," they were privately 
of the opinion that Miss Pauline was an outrageous 
jade. Returning to the drawing-room, refreshments were 
announced and they entered the large dining-room. Here 
was spread a luxurious table of cakes, confections, creams, 
jellies, fruits, wines, &c, while on a side-table was coffee, 
chocolate and tea. Upon their departure the Count pre- 
sented to one of the ladies a pair of drop cameo filigree 
earrings, upon which was cut a profile likeness of Pauline. 
Some time afterwards, upon due notice, to the wonder of the 
neighbors and consternation of the family, the Count, witli 
his whole household and retinue, in several carriages,, 
returned the visit at Rural Park. Isaac Field, who was a 
supercargo in the East India trade, had presented to his 
father-in-law a full-sized bust of Helena, which stood on a 
pedestal in the dining-room. One of the ladies of the 
family very carefully covered the breast up with a light 
shawl and invited the Count and his party into their "statue 
gallery" to view it, which caused much merriment, the 
Count enjoying the hit heartily. 

Pauline, the Princess Borghese, married first General 



84 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

LeClerc, a man of brilliant genius, who would doubtless 
have adorned the most splendid period of Napoleon's 
empire. Commanding the expedition to St. Domingo, he 
fell a victim to the climate. Pauline at once returned to 
France, depositing her treasures in the triple coffin which 
carried her dead husband to his native country. Emerg- 
ing from the gloom of the voyage into the voluptuous 
pleasures of the French Capital) the gayety she displayed 
gave rise to frequent remark. The "American Cyclopae- 
dia," vol. 3, pages 25 and 26, says of her: "She had no 
advantage of education, but was remarkably brilliant and 
beautiful." Her second husband, an Italian, Prince Camillo 
Borghcsc, almost immediately separated from her, he sus- 
pecting her virtue, and only became reconciled to her in her 
illness, towards the end of her life. "Napoleon doted 
upon Pauline, and made her duchess of Guastalla; but lie 
rebuked her excessive jealousy of Josephine, and resented 
her rudeness to Marie Louise, by banishing her from his 
court. She nevertheless led a gay life in the vicinity of 
Paris, and, subsequently at Nice, gathered round her many 
fashionable people of easy virtue." She was devoted to 
her brother Napoleon when fate's decree overshadowed him, 
and sent to him all her diamonds and valuables, which were 
captured by the British after Waterloo. She sought per- 
mission to join him at St. Helena, which request Lord Liv- 
erpool granted. But it came too late — Napoleon was dead. 
She died at Florence, Italy, June 9th, 1825. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 85 



CHAPTER X. 

Joseph's Position in Regard to the Duke de Reichstadt — Decree 
of the French Senate — Revolution op 1830 — His Letter to 
the Chamber of Deputies — Visits England — Respect Paid to 
Him on His Departure — Revisits America — Returns to Europe 
— Death — Extracts from His Will — Prince Joseph — Sale of 
the Park — Beckett — The Hamiltons. 

IN CONNECTION" with Joseph Bonaparte, it is proper to 
understand his position in regard to the French nation, 
and the son of his hrother, the great Napoleon. In a decree 
of the French Senate, passed November 27th, 1804, and 
ratified by the vote of the French people, is the following 
section : 

"Art. 5. In defect of lawful heirs, or adopted heirs of 
Napoleon Bonaparte, the imperial dignity is devolved and 
deferred to Joseph Bonaparte and his lawful descendants, 
by order of primogeniture, from male to male, to the per- 
petual exclusions of females and their descendants." 

In a letter to the author of the " Biographical Sketch of 
Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte," pages XII to XV, Joseph 
writes : 

* * * "With respect to the letter to the Chamber of 
Deputies, the date must be referred to in order to show 
how opportune it was. I conscientiously fulfilled my duty 
by doing that in the name of my brother's orphan, which 
it was impossible for him to do for himself. 

" His ever to be deplored death now imposes upon me 
another duty, that of adhering with inviolable fidelity to 
the declaration made by the French people in the 13th year 
of the Republic (27th of November, 1804), until the 
moment that the nation shall please to decide otherwise. 
But, however patriotic my feelings and rigorous my sense 
of duty, far be from me the shade of a pretension which 
might occasion the least trouble. What signify individuals 



86 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

in comparison with a nation? Exile, even death in a 
foreign land, would be regarded by us as patriotic offerings, 
if an overwhelming necessity, stronger than the sympathy 
of the French nation for us, imposed them. It is always 
sufficiently glorious to suffer with and for a great nation, 
of which one Las done nothing unworthy. 

"Everything for the French 'people, was the device of Napo- 
leon. Everything for the French people and by the people, 
will be likewise the device of the heirs of his name; above 
all, of him from whom that great man concealed nothing, 
A general peace only could have completely manifested 
what claims Napoleon really had to the love and gratitude 
of the French. Those who form their opinion of him only 
from his dictatorship (to which he was compelled by the 
war which the enemies of France never ceased to make 
upon him) know nothing of him. What might not France 
be now after a peace of eighteen years, if Napoleon had 
continued to govern it!!!" 

The author of the biographical sketch, on pages 97 and 
104, says : " In 1830, after the people of Paris had expelled 
the dynasty which had been forced upon France by foreign- 
ers, Joseph thought it was his duty to send to the Chamber 
of Deputies a letter, of which the following is a translation, 
a duplicate of which was deposited in the archives of M. P. 
S. Duponeeau, notary public, in Philadelphia: 

" To the Members of the Chamber of Deputies at Paris : 
" Gentlemen — * * * * " There 

are no governments upon the earth legitimate, except 
those acknowledged by the nations; nations alone create or 
destroy them, as they think necessary; nations alone have 
the right, individuals and particularly families only have 
duties to fulfill. 

"Napoleon's family was named by three million five hun- 
dred thousand votes; if the nation thinks it will be advan- 
tageous to it to make another choice, it and it only has the 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 



87 



power and the right to do so; Napoleon II was proclaimed 
by the Chamber of Deputies, in 1815, which recognized in 
him a right, conferred by the nation. I accept in his name 
and for him, all the modifications decreed by the Chamber 
of 1815, which was dissolved by the enemy's bayonet. I 
have the most positive proofs of knowing that Napoleon 
the Second would be worthy of France. Above all, it is as 
a Frenchman that I desire the recognition of the incontest- 
able right which he has to the throne, as long as the nation 
shall not have adopted another form of government. He is the 
only person who is legitimate in the true meaning of the 
word, that is to say, legally and voluntarily elected by the 
people ; he has no need of a new election ; nevertheless, 
the nation is competent to confirm or to rescind titles which 
it has conferred, whenever such is its pleasure. Until then, 
gentlemen, you owe your duty to Napoleon the Second; 
and until Austria restores him to the wishes of the French, 
I offer to share your clanger, your efforts, your labors, and 
on his arrival to transmit to him the desire, the example, 
and the last disposition of his father, while dying a victim 
to the enemies of France on the rock of St. Helena. 
******** 

" Gentlemen, I have fulfilled what appeared to me to be 
a sacred duty. May the voice of one proscribed, across the 
Atlantic, be heard, and bear to the hearts of his country- 
men the conviction which is impressed upon his own. 

******** 

" The liberty of the press is the triumph of truth — by it 
the conscience of every one is enlightened — let it speak, 
and let the will of the great nation be accomplished. I 
subscribe to it with all my heart and soul. 

"Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte, 

"Count de Survilliers. 
"18th September, 1830." 

This letter was not read to the Chamber. In those slow 
days of transmission of intelligence, Louis Phillippe was 



88 BONAPABTE'S PABK. 

proclaimed King before it was written. He accepted the 
crown on the 8th of August precedent. 

Soon after the ascension of Louis Phillippe to the throne 
of France, he granted a partial pardon to the exiles of the 
Napoleon dynasty. In 1832, Joseph visited England. Very 
many of the citizens of Bordentown and vicinity called 
upon him prior to his departure, and upon the day of his 
leaving they turned out en masse to bid him good-bye. At 
Philadelphia a number of the most prominent gentlemen 
of the city accompanied him to the vessel. Upon the very 
day of his departure, July 22d, his nephew, the Duke de 
Eeichstadt, the son and heir of Napoleon, died. His arri- 
val in England so soon after this occurrence, occasioned 
much speculation in the newspapers, particularly those of 
France. Political motives were assigned as the reason, and 
these were apparently affirmed by the arrival in England of 
his brothers Lucien and Jerome, and his nephew Louis 
Napoleon, who subsequently became Napoleon III. Each 
party in France accounted for it in its own way, and the 
strong prejudice against him and the Bonaparte family was 
revived. There is, however, no reason to suppose his 
return was governed by any political motives, further than, 
perhaps, the general good and interest of the family. The 
Bonapartes, since the death of the great Emperor, have 
been, and, for years to come, will be, candidates for the 
throne of France, upon every favorable opportunity; and it 
is not beyond the bounds of possibilities that another of the 
Bonapartes will bear the title of Napoleon IV. 

In the biographical sketch above quoted, the author, on 
page 95, says : 

"During the sixteen years which Joseph resided in the 
United States, he won universal esteem from the citizens. 
All the inhabitants of Bordentown repaired to his retreat, 
to bid farewell to one who, for so many years, had been an 
object of respect and attachment to an independent popula- 
tion, of many of whom he had been a benefactor, and of all 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 89 

the friend. Similar testimonies of respect were paid to 
him on his embarkation at Philadelphia, where the most 
distinguished citizens and the most respectable inhabitants 
of a city, which numbers so many, went to pay their tribute 
to one whom they had learned to know and appreciate." 
On page 6, the same author says : 

"That Joseph quitted the republic of the United States, 
where he had lived like a true philosopher, doing good, 
receiving, as a father, all the unfortunates who were ban- 
ished from France, and gaining the universal esteem of the 
America of Washington." 

The "American Cyclopaedia," vol. 3, page 31, says of 
Joseph : 

" He endeared himself to Americans by his benevolence, 
affability and accomplishments, and he was elected to many 
philanthropical and learned associations." 

Joseph, disgusted with the charges made against him in 
England, returned to America in 1837, where he remained 
for nearly two years. During this time he traveled to some 
extent through the country, and settled up his affairs. In 
1839 he again went to England. He preserved his strength, 
energy and mental powers till 1840, when he suffered from 
a paralytic attack, from which he never afterwards recov- 
ered. Eventually he obtained permission to go to Florence 
to rejoin his family, and it was hoped the climate might 
re-establish his health. The misfortunes of his family 
engrossed much of his thoughts during his latter years, and 
he & constantly expressed his regrets at the injustice of France 
in permitting so many men who had served the nation 
faithfully to die in exile. 

Of his last sickness, Louis Napoleon says : "Attended by 
the Queen Julie, whose devotion failed not to the last, and 
who was ever a comforting angel, as well as by his brothers 
Louis and Jerome, whom he loved affectionately, he expired 



90 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

gently; and, as a righteous man, he would have seen the 
approach of death without regret, if the phantom of exile 
had not intruded, even on his last moments, to wring his 
heart and poison his last farewell." He died at Florence, 
July 28th, 1844, aged 76 years. 

Joseph was not made for camps or thrones. He found, 
the main sources of happiness in domestic and social life, 
and in the gratification of his literary and artistic tastes. 
Yet the correspondence between himself and the great 
Napoleon, which has been published since his death, reveals 
the confidential intercourse between them. The museum 
of Versailles contains a marble statue of Joseph, by 
Delaistre ; a bust, by Bartolini ; and a portrait of him, by 
Gerard. 

By his last will and testament, dated London, June 14th, 
1840, and a codicil dated at the Palace Serrister, Florence, 
September 21st, 1841, he devised most of his estate, now 
very much reduced, to his widow, and all his real estate in 
America to his grandson and god-son Joseph, son of Charles 
Bonaparte and his daughter Zenaide. The following items 
of his will, interesting to the residents of Bordentown, are 
given in full : 

" Ardently devoted to me in my exile, were Mr. Louis 
Mailliard, whose son lives near me, and Mr. Thibaud, whose 
daughter lives with me. I declare here that no man has 
more right to my confidence, to my esteem, than Louis 
Mailliard. I would like to show my attachment to him by 
a great legacy ; but his modesty equals his fidelity. I know 
that what I am about to give him will satisfy him. I 
bequeath then, to Mr. Louis Mailliard, the farm of Grove- 
ville, near the village of the same name, of about 250 acres, 
more or less, such as it is, and as I bought it of Mr. Wm. 
McKnight. This farm, situated in America, forms part of 
the domain that I have designated for the above. I give 
and bequeath equally to Mr. Louis Mailliard, six thousand 
dollars in stock of the Union Canal, of Pennsylvania. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 91 

" I give and bequeath to his son, Adolph Mailliard, six 
thousand dollars in stock of the Union Canal Company, 
Pennsylvania. I give and bequeath to Mr. Wra, Thibaud, 
six thousand dollars in old stocks of the Union Canal. I 
give and bequeath to his daughter, Josephine Thibaud, six 
thousand dollars in old stocks of the Union Canal. 

"As I have remitted to-day the titles of each of these 
legacies to each of the four legatees, my heir will not have 
to make the deliverance of the same to them. They are 
absolute masters of it from this day. 

"All my papers, writings and memorials, other than the 
papers forming the titles to the furniture and real estate of 
the succession, or referring to it, shall be remitted by my 
heir above designated to Mr. Louis Mailliard, or left in the 
hands of the said Mr. Mailliard, if he has them in his power. 
Mr. Mailliard shall take an inventory immediately, without 
control by any one. He shall have charge of them and 
remit them to my grandson Joseph, at his twenty-fifth year. 
In ease of the death of Joseph before this age, the charge 
shall be remitted to my grandson Lucien, at the age of 
twenty-five years, and successively to my grandson Napo- 
leon, upon his having reached his twenty-fifth year. If 
death comes to my three grandsons before the age indi- 
cated, Mr. Mailliard shall select from the family issue of 
the marriage of Charles Bonaparte and Zenaide the person 
that he wishes, either among my granddaughters, or even 
among the sons-in-law of my daughter or husbands of my 
granddaughters, and shall remit to him these papers. If 
Mr. Mailliard shall die before having been able to realize 
my wish in this regard, his son Adolph shall have charge 
of the same mission and of the same trust. 

" I charge Mr. Mailliard (Louis) with a special legacy of 
ten thousand dollars, the use of which I have indicated to 
him, and for the execution of which I wish that his honor 
may be trusted absolutely, without any question or demand 
ever being made to him in this regard. The ten thousand 



92 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

dollars shall be reckoned to Mr. Mailliard in the year of 
my death. He need never make any account of it. 

"I wish that after my death Mr. Louis Mailliard may 
dwell in my residence at Point Breeze; that he may be 
administrator of my possessions in America, until the 
majority of my grandson Joseph; that he may receive a 
title of indemnity, an annual income of four hundred dollars; 
an income which shall be continued to him during his life, 
even when his functions of administrator shall cease, or 
after he withdraws from them. I now bestow a title of 
legacy to each of the following named persons: 

" 17. To Mr. Joseph Hopkinson, a round basrelief of 
marble, representing General Bonaparte, first consul. It 
is now in my. house at Point Breeze. 

" 21. To Mr. Louis Mailliard, my portrait in miniature, in 
the uniform of my guard. I authorize him from this day 
to keep it: also one of my gold repetition watches. 

"22. To Mr. fin. Thiband my portrait in miniature, in 
uniform of light-horseman of the guard, and to Miss Jose- 
phine Thiband my portrait in cameo. 

" 23. To A. M. Adolph Mailliard my silver toilet articles. 

" 5. To Mr. Langhorn Thorn, my manager and door- 
keeper at Point Breeze, I bequeath also ten thousand francs. 

" I name for my testamentary executors M. M. Joseph 
Hopkinson and Louis Mailliard, who shall act either in 
common or separately in the right which confers upon them 
this title. 

"The injustice of those who have had power in France 
since 1815, has only caused my love for the absent country 
to increase. When my family shall be free to return there 
through the will of the French nation, my wish is that ray 
remains may be interred there in a free land. * * 

I trust them to the care of Mr. Louis Mailliard, desiring 
that they may be deposited in the place where I shall breathe 
my last." 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 93 

Joseph's grandson, Joseph Lucien Charles Napoleon, 
Count de Musignano, the eldest son of Prince Charles and 
Zenaide, was born at the southeast corner of Eleventh and 
Market streets, Philadelphia, February 13th, 1824. By 
will he was vested with the title of the Park, and all 
Joseph's real estate in America excepting the Groveville 
farm. He came to Bordentown and took possession of the 
estate shortly after his grandfather's death, and resided 
there at periods for a number of years. He was popularly 
known as Prince Joseph, was more secluded and a little 
grander than his uncle, but was well liked by the citizens. 
Soon after the revolution of 1848, he entered France, and 
barely escaped assassination in Rome in 1850, though he 
was not connected with politics, and died in that city in 
1865. 

By this devise of Joseph of all his immense landed estate 
in America, it is fair to suppose he expected his grandson 
to reside upon it until the restoration of the Bonapartes to 
power, an event which he never doubted would occur. 
But the young Prince entertained different views and inten- 
tions. He soon commenced disposing of the farms, and 
all were sold at remunerative prices; and at last the Park 
was put up at auction to the highest bidder, Thomas Rich- 
ards, Esq., of Philadelphia, becoming the purchaser. 

This occurred in 1847, the title being conveyed to Mr. 
Richards on the 11th of August of that year. He, how- 
ever, held it for a few years only, conveying the same to 
Henry Beckett, Esq., on the 15th of October, 1850. Mr. 
Beckett was a son of Sir John Beckett, of Somerby Park, 
Lincolnshire, England, who was created a baronet in the 
year 1813, and a brother of Sir Thomas, and of his suc- 
cessor, Sir Edmund Denison Beckett. He came to this 
country many years ago, and settled in Philadelphia, at 
which port he was for a long time British Consul. He 
married a Miss Lyle of that city. Her mother was a Miss 
Hamilton, who was descended from Andrew Hamilton, a 



94 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

Scotchman and Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania in 1701. 
The Hamiltons lived in great state at their country seat at 
Bush Hill, near Fairmount, now a built-up portion of Phil- 
adelphia, containing some of the finest houses in that city. 
The original tract was very large, and descended to the 
family as valuable building lots. All Mr. Beckett's money 
came from the Hamilton estate. Many of the old Hamil- 
ton papers were stored in the Lake House. 

Prior to Mr. Beckett's purchase of the Park, he resided 
in the " Mailliard house." Not being satisfied with the old 
Bonaparte house, he had it pulled down, and near its site 
erected a modern residence, " with gas, and hot and cold 
water." The only things Mr. Beckett saved from the 
palace were two mantel-pieces, sent to this country as a 
present to the Count, by his uncle, Cardinal Fesch. They 
were carved in Italy, at a cost of $1,500 each, and are beau- 
tiful as works of art. The statuary on the grounds have 
been removed and sold, most of them under the auctioneer's 
hammer; the beautiful drives are half overgrown with wild 
grass, the lake is a weed-covered marsh. All that remains 
is the natural beauty of the ground, and the debris of 
departed grandeur. He was often spoken of as Sir Henry, 
or Lord Beckett, but he was never knighted.* His widow 
resides near New York city, and his only son and heir in 
England. In 1866, Mr. Beckett purchased and presented 
to Christ Church, Bordentown, the house and lot adjoining 
the edifice, for a rectory. 

* Cliarles E. Kartright, Esq., British Consul Philadelphia. 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 95 



CHAPTER XI. 

Interesting Sketch of Louis Mailliard — Recovery of the Buried 
Casket — Joseph's Remains Transferred to France — Adolth 
Mailliard. 

TN CONNECTION with Joseph Bonaparte, we take pleas- 
-L ure in devoting a few lines to the memory of a man who 
was so well known in our community by his attachment 
and fidelity to his King, and who, for thirty-six years, never 
left his post of trust and confidence. 

King Joseph, in his last will, begins with these words : 
" I here declare that no man has more right to my confi- 
dence and esteem than Mr. Louis Mailliard;" and, after 
giving him many instructions about his papers and mortal 
remains, appointed him, with Judge Joseph Hopkinson, his 
testamentary executor. The Judge died, full of years and 
full of honors, before the testator. This left Mr. Mailliard 
as sole surviving executor. The trust was performed by 
him with the greatest care and fidelity. 

Louis Mailliard, at the early age of fourteen, was taken, 
by King Joseph, to Spain, followed him in all his campaigns 
and visits to France, and finally accompanied him in his 
exile. 

We will now give the following deeply-interesting and 
perfectly reliable statement, never before given to the 
public : 

" In 1814, when the Emperor Napoleon abdicated, Joseph 
retired to Switzerland, where he purchased the estate of 
Prangins, with a fine chateau and park, lie resided there 
until the restoration of the empire, in 1815. Called back 
to France, by his imperial brother, to take a share in public 
affairs, and not so sanguine of success as Napoleon, he pre- 
pared himself to meet adversity again, and save part of his 
fortune in case of disaster. Like all sovereigns, he had in 



96 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

his possession diamonds and valuable jewels representing a 
large sum. Not willing to risk them with him on his jour- 
ney to France, where he might be killed or made prisoner, 
he confided his anxiety to Mailliard, who advised him to 
bury them in some remote spot in the park, and offered to 
show him a place of safety, where nobody but themselves 
could ever find them again — a place which he had discov- 
ered while hunting, as a resort for foxes and wild animals. 
Joseph, struck with the idea, went with him to the spot, 
and decided at once to follow the advice. An inventory in 
duplicate was made of all the jewels to be buried, an iron 
box provided to enclose the casket, and the next night it 
was buried several feet under ground by Mailliard, in pres- 
ence of Joseph. He rejoined his brother in Paris, took the 
direction of affairs during the absence of Napoleon, which 
ended in the battle of Waterloo, and never put his foot in 
Prangins again. 

"In 1817, seeing everything quiet in Europe, Joseph told 
Mailliard to prepare to sail for Europe; that it was time to 
go to Prangins to recover the buried treasure, and, on his 
way home, try to influence Queen Julie and his daughters 
to join him in America. He could, better than anybody, 
explain his position and the comforts they could expect. 

" Well provided with passports and letters of credit, Mail- 
liard sailed from New York, but was wrecked on the coast 
of Ireland. The sea being calm, all the passengers and 
crew were saved, but the ship was a total loss. Having 
saved his papers, he pursued his journey to England, and 
thence went to Brussels, where Queen Julie was residing 
with her daughters. On receiving the message from her 
husband, she decided at first to join him, but, her physicians 
having positively declared that she could not stand the sea 
voyage, it was determined to wait until her health could 
permit it. She never was able to do it. Receiving a nega- 
tive answer, Mailliard continued his journey to Switzerland, 
and finally" reached Prangins. Having disguised himself as 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 97 

an eccentric Englishman, lie called upon the administrator 
of the estate during Joseph's absence, Mr. Veret, who did 
not recognize him. Making himself known, he explained 
his errand to Veret, who promised to help him. It was 
agreed that Mailliard should pass for an English coal specu- 
lator, who was persuaded that a coal mine existed in the 
park of Prang-ins, and who wanted to prospect for it. The 
next day, Mr. Veret procured for him a few workmen, 
whom the supposed Englishman set to work near the local- 
ity where the iron box was buried. Slowly and by degrees 
he brought them exactly to the spot, and occupied them 
until dark to remove the earth within about two feet of the 
concealed box. Darkness compelled the men to go home. 
Later in the night, asking Mr. Veret to go with him as a 
witness, Mailliard drove rapidly to the spot, took a crowbar 
left by the workmen, and began sounding, No signs of the 
box yet. The foxes had, by digging new holes, increased 
the original amount of earth over it. The shovel was 
brought into requisition, and the hole made deeper. At last, 
after an hour's anxiety ami suspense, the crowbar struck a 
solid body, and the well-known sound of iron was heard. 
A little more shoveling, and the box was uncovered. With 
the help of Mr. Veret, it was placed in the carriage and 
taken to his house. The iron box was opened, and the 
casket appeared, just as it had been placed by King Joseph. 
Mr. Veret and Mailliard took out the jewels, compared 
them with the duplicate inventory, and not one was miss- 
ing. Everything was in the most perfect order. What a 
relief to the messenger. 

" Of course the next day the Englishman left the country, 
not having found indications of coal, and never was seen 
again at Prangins. 

" Returning to England by the shortest route, Mr. Mailliard 
sailed for New York, and arrived safely. He, lost no time 
in the city, hired a carriage and drove on until he reached 
Bordentown, in the middle of the night. King Joseph w T as 



98 BONAPARTE'S PARK. 

asleep and did not expect him so soon. lie awoke and was 
very much gratified to see Mailliard enter the room and 
place in his hands the buried casket with its contents. 
The success of the mission increased Joseph's confidence in 
Mailliard'8 sincere attachment to him, and from that time 
he never did anything without first consulting with him. 
In a letter to Queen Julie, he writes: ' Mailliard has been 
very ill, but I am happy to say better. I cannot do with- 
out him; he is my secretary, my intendent; he is my right 
hand.' 

"Joseph kept no secrets from the young confidant whom 
he had brought up under his eyes, and with whom he could 
speak of his past glories, or talk of his plans for the future. 
He always found a willing ear and a consoling spirit in 
the man who was ready to sacrifice everything for the com- 
fort and welfare of the King in exile. Time only served to 
strengthen the attachment between them. For thirty-six 
years, from 1808 to 1844, Mailliard neve.r left his post, and 
the death of King Joseph, in Florence, in 1844, only 
released him from his duty to the living; his duty to the 
memory of the illustrious dead was not ended. He returned 
to America to act as executor, and remained until the set- 
tlement of the estate. As soon as Louis Napoleon had 
ascended the throne of France, hi' sailed for Europe and 
gave his attention to the execution of his patron's last 
injunctions: 'To have his correspondence with Napoleon 
published, and his mortal remains transferred to France as 
soon as that country should be re-opened to the Napoleon 
family.' 

"Both objects were successfully accomplished. The 
Emperor Napoleon III received him very warmly, gave 
him full liberty to do what he thought best to the memory 
of his uncle; asked him also to select some public office to 
his taste, &c. 

"After performing the last rites, that is, transferring the 
remains of Joseph to the Napoleon chapel, Mailliard 



BONAPARTE'S PARK. 99 

retired to his country seat, at Mortefontaine, where he 
ended along and useful life, beloved and regretted by every 
one who had known him." 

Mr. Louis Mailliard's son and heir, Adolph, visited Cali- 
fornia, about 1851, and traveled extensively through the 
state. Returning to Bordentown he resided in the Mail- 
hard house for some years, when, with his family, he 
returned to California about 1867. Here he purchased a 
large tract of land, near San Rafael, where, in his mountain 
home, surrounded by his family, with his horses, dogs and 
gun, a choice library and music, they possess all that the 
heart could desire. 



The Murats 



The Murats. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Murat, King of the Sicilies — Prince Murat — Settles near Bor- 
dentown— Roebuck — Marries Miss Fraser — The Fraseks— The 
City in the Air — The Prince's Characteristics — Madame Mu- 
rat's School — How the Prince Spent His Time — The Prince 
in ilis Glory. 

JOACHIM MURAT, the dashing and brave, but superfi- 
J rial and unfortunate — the father of Prince Murat — was 
the son of an inn-keeper, was educated for the church 
and ordained sub-deacon. Dismissed for some youthful 
follies, he enlisted in the chasseurs. Promoted a lieutenant, 
he was cashiered, and became a waiter in a cafe at Paris. 
Entering the guard of Louis XYI, he was promoted a lieu- 
tenant of cavalry, and was again cashiered. Being restored 
he served as an aid to Napoleon in Italy. Napoleon con- 
ceived a strong attachment for him, promoted him, and sub- 
sequently gave him his sister Caroline in marriage. On the 
establishment of the empire he became a marshal and 
prince. He commanded the army that invaded Spain, and 
was made King of the Two Sicilies. Incurring the displea- 
sure of Napoleon, he listened to overtures from his enemies. 
Still, he joined Napoleon in the Russian campaign, and was 
given command of the grand army in its disastrous retreat. 
He returned to Italy and resumed his secret negotiations 
with the enemies of Napoleon, but joined him in the cam- 
paign of 1813. On his return to Italy he signed a treaty 
with Austria, by which his kingdom was guaranteed to 



104 THE MURATS. 

him. At the head of thirty thousand men, he acted with 
the allies, who, after using him, abandoned him. 

The Congress of Vienna decided on his overthrow. He 
reconciled Napoleon, and upon the latter's return from 
Elba, marched against the Austrians. Failing in his cam- 
paign, his army dwindling away, he attempted negotiation 
with the allies, but, deserted oven by his own emissaries, his 
kingdom in insurrection, his Queen a refugee on board an 
English frigate, he was obliged to fly. After Waterloo, in 
which he was not allowed to share, he landed at Pizzo with 
a few followers, and attempted in vain to rouse the inhab- 
itants. Pursued to the mountains, he fought desperately, 
but fell into the hands of peasantry. Taken to the castle, 
he was condemned by a court-martial, and shot in one of 
the rooms. lie died as a soldier should die, setting an 
example of calm courage and fortitude. 

Marshal, Prince, King Murat's youngest son, Napoleon 
Francois Lucien Charles, our Prince Murat, was born in 
Milan, May 16th, 1803. At the execution of his father in 
1815, he was twelve years of age. He lived with his 
mother until 1822, when he went to Spain, where he was 
arrested on suspicion. After his liberation he came to 
America and settled on a farm near Columbus, New Jersey. 
Some time afterwards he bought a farm of about one hun- 
dred acres near the Park. Some fifty or sixty years ago 
this place belonged to an English gentleman named Roe- 
buck. There is a popular belief or tradition around Bor- 
dentown that the well-known sand-burs, so common to 
some parts of New Jersey, did not appear until his coming, 
hence they are known here as " Roebuck burs." As it is 
said that he brought them here in the Saxon sheep he 
imported, they are sometimes called the "Saxon bur." 
This of course is an error, as they are indigenous to the 
sandy soil of our state. Mr. Roebuck apparently was a 
gentleman of high education, and there is said to have been 
something mysterious about him. Roebuck is a rare name 



THE MURATS. 105 

in this country. It is the name of an eminent English 
family, one of whom was a noted member of Parliament 
during- our late war for the Union, and a violent opponent 
of the Free States. An English Avar vessel during the 
Revolution was called the "Roebuck." 

The house, still standing, is situated on the Trenton road 
near the White Horse bridge. It was constructed on the 
plan of an Italian villa. In the rear and connected with it 
were: the barns, stables and outbuildings of stone or brick, 
forming a hollow square, inside of which they all fronted, 
and in which his horses, cattle, stock and everything else 
was kept. 

Afterwards the Prince lived on the Recklesstown pike, 
near the old pottery. But the famous house of Murat was 
on Park street, near Third, close to the Park. It was a 
long, low, rambling building, with uneven roof and dormer 
windows. Built of brick, covered with plaster of a dark 
gray, with a row of trees in front of it, it had somewhat 
the appearance of elegance. 

While residing at Bordentown, Prince Murat met and 
married Miss Caroline Georgina Fraser. It was a pure 
love match between them. The lady was a daughter of 
Major Eraser, of the British army during the revolutionary 
war. After the war he married into an old aristocratic 
family of South Carolina, and resided there and in Phila- 
delphia, in which city he died and was buried. His pension 
from the British government was continued to his widow, 
Anna Longton Fraser, during her life. 

The match was not approved of by either family. The 
Count very much disapproved of it, he considering the 
Prince betrothed to one of his cousins in Europe. All 
objections, however, did not amount to much- with the 
Prince and Miss Fraser. One afternoon they went out for 
a drive, and going to Trenton, they were privately married 
by the Rev. Dr. Beasley, of St. Michael's Episcopal Church. 
The Prince was a tall, handsome, aristocratic-looking young 



106 THE MURATS. 

man, possessed of much of the dash and bearing of his. 
father. Caroline was the youngest and the beauty of the 
family, tall, elegant and majestic in appearance. The 
romantic love she formed for him grew stronger with 
advancing years, although she did not approve of the dem- 
ocratic taste he socially displayed away from home. The 
Prince was sincerely attached to her, and fully appreciating 
the good wife she made him and services rendered, ever 
retained his love. 

Mrs. Murat had four sisters, Eliza S., Jane, Harriet and 
Maria, and one brother, William. Caroline and William 
were twins. Eliza was engaged to a gentleman of Charles- 
ton, South Carolina, named Cairns, who, dying, left her 
$40,000.* The Prince, who was visionary in all business 
matters, induced her and his wife to invest in a large tract 
of land on Black river, in the northern part of New York 
state, where he projected a city, in which to gather the 
wealthy and grand of the land. The site was elegant, the 
scenery romantic, the gunning and fishing splendid. Wild 
dells, giddy peaks, chasms and overhanging cliffs, through 
which the hunter's horn could echo until the last note died 
away among the clouds, were there; but, alas! no one 
would invest in town lots, and the ''castle in the air" faded 
away, leaving not a trace of the money invested. 

Prior to this, the Prince had spent $70,000 in farming, 
horses, dogs, guns and princely alas. While he had money 
he could never realize the possibility that he would ever be 
in want of it. To the hostler or rustic who tied or watered 
his horses, he gave the first piece of money he found in his 
pockets, be it silver or gold. If he fancied a pointer or 
setter, he would have it, at any price. He went to the pines 
with a party of gentlemen, after deer. In the evening his 
servant brought him a basket of champagne. Knocking 
the necks off with a knife, he emptied the contents into a 

*Miss Maria H. Nutt. 



THE MUX ATS. 107 

bucket, and soon concocted a luscious punch. These were 
trifles for a prince, but heavy for a Jersey farmer of moder- 
ate means. The Prince, at last, for the first time in his life, 
began to realize the want of money, though he never did the 
value of it. Soon he was involved in debt in every direction 
and his credit completely gone. In the meantime, he had 
a family of interesting children growing up. At last, in 
spite of his protestations, his most estimable wife, Mine. 
Murat, and her sisters, opened a select boarding and day 
school. In this they were quite successful, the school soon 
filling up with young ladies, mostly from the south. At 
one time there was quite a number of Cuban misses, from 
Havana, among their pupils. It is the boast of a number 
of ladies of Bordentown that they were pupils of this 
school, which was remarkably well kept and very flourish- 
ing. One of these ladies, in a conversation, said : " The 
Prince presided at the table, and was very attentive to all 
the pupils, particularly the young and bashful. He had 
little to say to us, but was one of the most agreeable and 
polished gentlemen I ever met." 

This was at home. The Prince undoubtedly was a 
gentleman in manners, but his manners were like a pair of 
gloves, to be drawn on or thrown aside as occasion suited 
him. Away from home he was emphatically a "good 
fellow," and very democratic in his ideas. His boon com- 
panions in the town were bar-room loafers. Though not 
addicted to liquor, he would take a, drink as freely with a 
hostler as a gentleman. lie would sit down in the corner 
of a fence and play a game of cards with any good fellow 
he chanced to meet, borrow a quarter of a darkey and give 
a boy a half-eagle for holding his horse — if he happened to 
have one. On Chestnut street one day he was met by one 
of his Bordentown chums, who hailed him with, "How are 
you, Prince?" and extended his hand. "Who the devil are 
you ? I don't know you in Philadelphia," was his indignant 
reply. At the White Horse, near the draw-bridge, upon a 



108 THE MURATS. 

summer's afternoon, he would play a game of ten-pins for 
drinks with any one who came along, and trouble the land- 
lord to chalk it down, if he lost. Onee during Joseph Bon- 
aparte's absence from home, the Prince secured the privilege 
of the purchase of a farm he knew Ins uncle desired to 
possess. Upon Joseph's return he offered him a thousand 
dollars advance on the price, which Murat felt in honor 
bound to decline. The Prince was very fond of gunning. 
Miller Howard, Esq., a keen sportsman, upon one occasion 
invited him to go to the pines after deer. He at onee 
declined, stating frankly he had not money to pay his way. 
Upon another occasion Mr. Howard owned a deer dog he 
would not part with under any circumstance. Murat took 
a fancy to it, and as Mr. Howard declined to sell, he 
advanced the offer until the sum got beyond all reason. At 
last, becoming indignant, he said: "You Americans are a, 
very queer people. I spend thousands of dollars among 
you, and you won't sell, give or lend me your dog.'"' The 
dog, in Howard's eyes, was above price or friendship. 
Once he was trying a pair of new horses out by Columbus. 
They balked, and he ordered his servant to go to a neigh- 
boring barn and bring a couple of sheaves of straw and 
place under them. These were set on tire, and the Prince 
went sailing down the pike in the height of his glory. 



THE MURATS. 109 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Assault and Battery — The Prince's Amusing Defence — Generous 
Tradesmen — His Friends — Revolution of 1848 — Return to 
France — Elected to the Assembly — Envoy, Senator, Prince, 
Soldier and Prisoner— The Princess Caroline's Rewards-Mr. 
Brown's Visit — Murat's Children — Baron de Chasseron and 
Duke de Mouchy — Fall of the Empire — Separation of Estate — 
Fortunes Spent by the Prince— His Sisters — Sketch of Napo- 
leon Achille Murat — William Fraser's Children. 

THE PRINCE once had an action of assault and battery 
brought against him by a groom, whom lie had kicked 
out of the stable for insulting kirn. The trial took place in 
the court at Mount Holly, and we arc indebted to the Hon. 
Edwin Salter, of New Jersey, now residing in Washington, 
D. C, for the following humorous account of it, taken, 
many years ago, from a West Jersey newspaper: 

"Prince Murat, one of the Bonaparte family, lived near 
Bordentown, and, being in a false position among republi- 
cans, the lower class of his neighbors, when employed by 
him, took great pains to let him know that every one was 
equal in New Jersey, i. e., that every one could do just as 
they pleased with him. 

"Murat was a very gentlemanly, good-natured man, of 
enormous size — some six feet two, and stout in proportion, 
and accustomed to severe exercise, lie could shoot all day 
in a monstrous pair of boots, going through morasses that 
would appall any sportsman but himself and Dr. Dewees, 
our accomplished contributor, who used often to shoot with 

him. 

"The Prince had employed a worthless fellow to groom 
his horses. One day he very civilly requested him, as 
was his constant custom (for he was very polite), to do 
something. The man flatly refused, and was so very inso- 
lent that Murat, with his awful boot, suddenly helped him 



110 THE MURATS. 

to the middle of the barn-yard pool. As a matter of course, 
the fellow sued him for assault and battery, confidently 
anticipating a handsome sum for damages. The court-room 
was filled with a very select audience, including many 
ladies; for Murat was highly esteemed for his elegant man- 
ners and commanding person. It was understood that lie 
was to plead his own case, and, as he was extremely acute 
and quite learned, greal sport was anticipated. The fellow, 
too. was provided with killing evidence, as was supposed; 
and Murat, it seemed, had little to hope lor. On examina- 
tion, he was confident of having received as many as six 
kicks from Murat, and, in short, of being grievously 
afflicted and misused. Murat demanded that he should 
show the precise spot where the bodily injury was inflicted. 
He endeavored to evade tin- demand, hut the Prince 
insisted; he accordingly indicated the very lowesl possible 
part of the spine, and again asserted that Murat had kicked 
him six times. There the defence rested, and the prosecut- 
ing attorney made a powerful appeal, filled with 'the sacred 
rights of the meanest citizen,' 'monarchical oppression,' 
'star spangled banner,' etc., etc.: but not a word of the vul- 
gar insolence or dishonesty of the laborer, who always 
demanded his full pay, whether a thief or liar, or as indo- 
lent as a sloth. Murat addressed the jury in the following 
conclusive style, which we cordially recommend to our doc- 
tor.-, lawyers and jurymen, for its convicting use of anatom- 
ical knowledge and its humor. Bowing profoundly to the 
bench and jury-box, which happened both to he filled with 
excellent common sense : 

".My lord, de judge and gentlemen of the jury, dere has 
been great efforts and much troubles to make everybody 
believe me a very bad man : but dat is of no consequence. 
De man tells you I kick him six times ! six times! so low 
as possible. I very sorry of the necessity to make him 
show how low it was, but I could not avoid it. Now, my 
lord and gentlemen of the jury, you see this part of the 



THE MTJRATS. Ill 

human skeleton (taking from the enormous pocket of his 
hunting-coat a human pelvis with the os coccygis complete 

and articulated with wires). Here are de hones. Dese 
little hours vat you see here (shaking them to the jury like 
the end of a rattlesnake's tail*, dese leetle hones are de very 
place vere de tail of de animal shall grow; dat is to say, if 
de man who sue me were to he a veritable jack — vot you 
you call it ? — ah ! jack-horse, and not only very much 
resemble dat animal, vy you see dese leetle hones, if dey 
were long enough, would he his tail!' The court was con- 
vulsed with laughter, and the Prince, being extremely acute 
and knowing he had the best of it, drew his speech to an 
end by stretching out his enormous leg, armed with his 
sporting-hoot up to his knee, ami clapping his hand on his 
massive thigh so that it resounded through the court-room, 
exclaimed: ' My lord and gentlemen, how absurd to say I 
could give him even von kick vid dat, and not to break all 
to pieces his leetle tail !' 

•• It was some time before the judge could gather enough 
dignity to sum up, when the fellow got six cents damages 
and the Prince three cheers." 

Murat's house was elegantly hut scantily furnished, and 
the relics of royalty adorned the walls and rooms. In all 
his poverty he retained these, refusing to part with them at 
any price. To the kindness and generosity of his creditors 
— and they were legion — they never seized them or troubled 
him with suits. This probably, though, was more through 
regard for his wife than for him. Although the Prince, as 
a general thing, was always •• hard up," he occasionally was 
rich. We say rich, for no matter how short the time his 
money lasted, he had apparently as much as he wanted. 
There were some who, to a small extent, were always will- 
ing: to credit him or loan him money. Among his most 
steadfast and generous friends was the late William Nor- 
cross, the father of Mrs. Col. Allen. He was one of his 



112 THE MURA TS. 

heaviesl creditors, and, to the honor of the Prince, when his 
family was called to France, he forwarded money to Bor- 
dentown to pay off all his indebtedness. His uncle, Joseph 
Bonaparte, at limes assisted him, bul left him nothing in 
his will. Although Mural forgot he was a Prince, Joseph 
never did. He utterly condemned the course he was pur- 
suing, and considered him a disgrace t<> the family. 

Mural had made several shorl vi-its to France, accom- 
panied at least once by his wile, their eldesl son, Joseph 
Joachim Napoleon, being horn in Paris, July 21st, 1834. 

In 1848, when the French Revolution occurred,* he 
obtained the loan of a considerable sum of money and 
returned to France. He was soon after elected to the con- 
stituent and legislative assemblies. In December of the 
same year, his first cousin, Louis Napoleon, was elected 
President of France, and in L849 Murat was appointed 
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Turin. 
In January, ls.">_, he became senator, ami the next year, 
after his cousin had assumed the imperial crown, he 
received the title of Prince of the family. In 1860, when 
the Bourbons were expelled from Naples, Mural put forth 
his claim to the throne of the Two Sicilies, but, at the 
instance of the Emperor, he immediately disclaimed his 
pretensions. In l s 7i*. when the war with Prussia broke 
out, he joined the army under Marshal Bazaine, ami was 
with him in Met/ when that city capitulated, becoming a 
prisoner of war. 

Upon the Prince's return to France, in 1848, as soon as 
he was satisfied the star of the Bonapartes had risen, he 
sent to Bordentown for his family to join him. Disp 
of the house and furniture. Madame Mural and her family 
set sail lor France. Never was a lady more entitled to 
princely estate ami honors than she. A constant and good 
wife she had made him, and to her exertion alone was due 

* February 2Uh. 



THE MURATS. 113 

the rearing and education of their children. The oft 
dreanied-of grandeur of her young love was now realized, 
and she and her children were received into the imperial 
family. With plenty of money Murat was indeed a Prince, 
as far as the spending of it was concerned. Possibly he 
sometimes thought of his old Bordentown cronies, but he 
had ceased to appreciate them. However, when any gen- 
tleman from Bordentown went to Paris, he was received 
with marked attention by the Prince, who always cherished 
the pleasantest memories of the town of his exile. The 
lateWardell Brown, having discounted the Prince's note in 
former days, which was duly protested, took a trip over to 
France, in hopes of recovering the money. He called upon 
the Prince, who received him with the utmost cordiality. 
They rode and dined together, and had a splendid time. 
Mr. Brown was taken to the Tuilleries, presented to the 
Emperor and grand dignitaries, and in fact treated with 
such distinguished kindness that he hesitated to broach the 
subject of his visit. One day the Prince took him through 
his palace and showed him his country seats. " You have 
everything in the world that the heart can tie-ire," said Mr. 
Brown. "Yes," replied the Prince, " bul the Emperor 
requires the whole of my income to he -pent in France." 

The Prince and Caroline had three son-, Joseph Joachim 
Napoleon, Achille and Lucien. The eldest entered the 
army, served in Algeria, the Crimean, Italian and Prussian 
wars, and was in 1866 promoted to a colonelcy. In 1872, 
he obtained leave to serve four year- in the Swedish army.f 
They had two daughters. Caroline married the Baron de 
Chasseron, and Anna the Duke de Mouchy. An infant lies 
buried in the grounds of Christ Church, Bordentown, whose 
grave is marked with a head-tone, upon which is cut, 
; ' Murat, December 20th, 1844." Near by is the grave of 
" Eliza Smith Fraser, April 6th, 1847." All the Frascr sis- 



t The "American Cyclopaedia," vol. XII, pages 40 and 50. 
b 



114 THE MURATS. 

ters living at the time, accompanied Madame Murat to 
France, where they remained, Mis* Jane being the only one 
now living. Madame Murat never l'orgot the friends of 
her youth, or the bright gleams and shadows of Bordentown. 
She constantly corresponded with Mrs. Lathrop, of Boston, 
the widow of the late Rev. John P. Lathrop, rector of 
Christ Church, Bordentown. 

Upon the fall of the Empire the Prince's incomes were 
cut off, and he found himself reduced to the necessity of 
subsisting on the paltry sum of £200,000. It was prepos- 
terous for Murat to expect to live on the interest, so he 
proceeded diligently to spend the principal. In this laud- 
able undertaking for a gentleman o\' seventy-four, he was, 
alas! interrupted. His good wife, the guardian angel of 
his life, seeing that years had not brought discretion, was 
forced, to save them from want, to apply to the courts for a 
separation of estate. The following, taken from a late num- 
ber of the "Boston Advertiser," we know from good 
authority to be correct : 

" Princess Lucien Murat has brought suit for separation 
of estate from her husband, she styling herself Princess 
Murat (by birth Caroline Georgina Fraser), and her hus- 
band Prince Napoleon Francois Lucien Charles Murat. 
His spendthrift habits make this measure necessary, now 
that he can no longer repair to the Emperor's private purse. 
She wishes to save a portion of the estate given them by 
Napoleon III. Hei- husband has run through his father's 
estate, which was large, lie has run through her estate, 
which was considerable. The Emperor gave him $200,000 
after the coup d'etat, and made him a senator, with S(>,000 
a year, and three times paid his debts." 

The Princess succeeded in her suit, and once more they 
lived happily together. A very large fortune belonging to 
his father was confiscated after the fall of the first empire, 
but was restored upon the advent of Louis Napoleon. The 



THE MURATS. 115 

Prince died in April, 1878, and his wife soon afterwards. 
The extraordinary vicissitudes that have marked the history 
of Murat, his marvelous restoration to fortune in France, 
and his reverses, seem " stranger than fiction " to people of 
Bordentown, who knew him so well. 

Prince Murat's sisters both married Italian noblemen. 
Lsetitia Josephine became Countess Pepoli, and Louise 
Julie Caroline, Countess Rasponi. His brother, Napoleon 
Achille, came to America in 1821, and found a home and a 
wife, with slaves and a plantation, near Tallahassee, Florida. 
liis wile was a daughter of Byrd Willis, Esq., Naval Agent, 
Pensacola, and grand-niece of Washington, lie seems to 
have enjoyed his adopted country with the zest of a sports- 
man and the adventurous spirit of his race, and to have 
easily reconciled himself to the incongruities of such a lot. 
He devoted much of his time to scientific pursuits, and 
wrote essays on the institutions of the country. When an 
honorary colonel in the Belgian army, he presented to a 
comrade the manuscript. After his death it was translated 
and published. The English edition was entitled " Murat's 
(Achille) Moral and Political Sketch of the United States 
of America," 8 vo., London, 1833. The American, -Amer- 
ica and the Americans," by the late Achille Murat, New 
York, 1849.* He received the appointment of aid-de- 
camp' with the rank of lieutenant-colonel to the Governor 
of Florida, and served with the volunteers of that state in 
the Seminole war, and died in 1847, on his estate, near Tal- 
lahassee. 

Madame Murat's twin brother, William Fraser, was well 
known to the citizens of Bordentown. lie married, m 
1840 a Miss Frances Brown, of Hunterdon county, New 
Jersey, who bore him six children. Of these, Thomas was 
killed in the late war for the Union. Frank Lucien mar- 
ried Miss Christiana Bates. Caroline G. married Charles 



* Tuckerman's "America and Her Commentators," New York, 1804, page 123. 






116 THE MURATS. 

M. Nye, yon of the late ex-Governor and ex-United States 
Senator Charles Nye, of Nevada Martha Jane married 
George Wilson. Guliann a married Joseph Daniels. They 
all reside, as docs their mother, in Washington, D. C, 
where their father, dying September 30th, 1870, was buried 
in Mount olive Cemetery. Mr. Nye (popularly known as 
"Charley Nye") is exceedingly popular in the Capital as an 
active temperance reformer and member of church. 



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768 







